Columbia  (Bntoe rtfttp 
intljeCitpoflfttJgork 

THE  LIBRARIES 


Bequest  of 

Frederic  Bancroft 

1860-1945 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES 


OP 


dBmhunt  liinerpt   Ministers 


DISTINGUISHED,    FOR   THE    MOST   PART,    AS 


PIONEEKS   OF  METHODISM 


WITHIN    THE   BOUNDS   OF 


THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  SOUTH. 


EDITED    BT 


THOMAS    O.    SUMMERS,  D.L\ 


...  t  NaajjbtHe,,  Cntn, : 

PUBLISHED  BY  E*  STEVENSON  &  v/A.  OWEN,  AGENTS, 

FOR  THE  METHODJST  ..EPJSCOEAL  COTXCH,  ;SOUTH. 


r 


3  <f*'7& 


Bnteredi  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1858,  by 
E.  BTEVBN80H  >v  F.  A.  OWEN, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Middle  District  of  Tennessee. 


BTEREOT.YPEJ)   A.VD   PRINTED   BY  A.  A.  8TITT, 
I    MKTIipniST   J>UELI«yli(i  HgWSK,"    NA    II'  ilI.E, 


SOUTHERN    METIipnjST 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

FRANCIS  ASBURY,  Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.     By  William 

M.  Wightman,  D.D.,  of  the  South  Carolina  Conference 11 

WILLIAM  McKENDREE,  Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  By 
Alexander  L.  P.  Green,  D.D.,  of  the  Tennessee  Conference 43 

WILLIAM  CAPERS,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 

By  William  M.  Wightman,  D.D.,  of  the  South  Carolina  Conference 75 

HENRY  B.  BASCOM,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South.  By  William  M.  Wightman,  D.D.,  of  the  South  Carolina 
Conference 93 

ROBERT  L.  KENNON,  M.D.,  of  the  Alabama  Conference.  By  Bishop  An- 
drew   113 

WILLIAM  M.  KENNEDY,  of  the  South  Carolina  Conference.     By  the  Rev. 

James  Stacy,  of  the  South  Carolina  Conference 131 

HEZEKIAH  G.  LEIGH,  D.D.,  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference.     By  the 

Rev.  Robert  0.  Burton,  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference 165 

VALENTINE  COOK,  A.M.,  of  the  Kentucky  Conference.  By  Edward  Ste- 
venson, D.D.,  of  the  Louisville  Conference 183 

THOMAS  L.  DOUGLASS,  of  the  Tennessee  Conference.  By  John  B.  M'Fer- 
rin,  D.D.,  of  the  Tennessee  Conference 203 

JOHN  LANE,  of  the  Mississippi  Conference.  By  Benjamin  M.  Drake,  D.D., 
of  the  Mississippi  Conference 229 

(v) 


Vi  CONTENT  S. 

PAGE 

RICHMOND   NOLLEY,  Missionary  to  Louisiana.     By  the  Rev.  Holland  N. 

M'Tyeire,  of  the  Louisiana  Conference 253 

JOHN  SLADE,  of  the  Florida  Conference.  By  the  Rev.  Peyton  P.  Smith,  of 
the  Florida  Conference 279 

EZRA  C.  THORNTON,  of  the  Western  Virginia  Conference.  By  the  Rev. 
Staunton  Field,  of  the  Western  Virginia  Conference 291 

IGNATIUS  A.  FEW,  LL.D.,  of  the  Georgia  Conference.  By  the  Rev.  Alex- 
ander Ifeua,  M.D.,  of  the  Georgia  Conference 301 

MARTIN  RUTER,  D.D.,  first  Superintendent  of  the  Missions  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  Texas.  By  his  daughter,  Mrs.  S.  R.  Camphcll,  wife 
of  the  Rev.  Lcwcll  Campbell,  of  the  IfiniMippi  Conference 321 

WILLIAM  W.  REDMAN,  of  the  Missouri  Conference.  By  the  Rev.  Andrew 
Monroe,  of  the  Missouri  Conference 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  not  the  design  of  the  present  volume  to  encourage 
"  hero-worship."  There  is  a  glorying  in  man  which  is  de- 
nounced as  idolatry,  because  it  derogates  from  the  glory  of 
God.  This  we  would  carefully  avoid.  And  yet  the  apostle 
speaks  of  "the  messengers  of  the  Churches,"  as  "the 
glory  of  Christ ;"  and  as  such,  while  living,  they  are  to  be 
"  esteemed  very  highly  in  love  for  their  work's  sake,"  and 
surely  when  dead  they  ought  not  to  be  forgotten.  "  The 
righteous  shall  be  in  everlasting  remembrance." 

"  Let  us  praise  famous  men,"  says  Sirach.  "  The  Lord 
hath  wrought  great  glory  by  them — leaders  of  the  people 
by  their  counsels,  and  by  their  knowledge  of  learning  meet 
for  the  people,  wise  and  eloquent  in  their  instructions — the 
glory  of  their  times.  There  be  of  them  that  have  left  a 
name  behind  them,  that  their  praises  might  be  reported. 
Their  bodies  are  buried  in  peace,  but  their  name  liveth  for 
evermore.  The  people  will  tell  of  their  wisdom,  and  the 
congregation  will  show  forth  their  praise."  But,  says  he, 
"  Some  there  be  who  have  no  memorial,  who  are  perished 
as  though  they  had  never  been." 

(vii) 


Vlll  INTRODUCTION. 

How  pertinently  these  reflections  apply  to  the  fathers  of 
Methodism  is  sufficiently  obvious.  Alas !  many  of  them 
who  were  famous  in  their  times  have  no  memorial.  But 
others  of  them  have  left  a  name  behind  them,  and  one 
which  we,  as  their  spiritual  posterity,  would  not  willingly 
let  die. 

It  is  not  indeed  our  purpose  to  "praise"  these  "famous 
men,"  only  as  this  is  unavoidably  done  in  tracing  their 
holy  and  useful  lives.  It  is  difficult  to  sketch  the  charac- 
ters of  men  whom  we  greatly  esteem,  without  indulging 
somewhat  in  eulogy  and  panegyric.  This  may,  perhaps,  be 
observed  in  some  of  these  sketches;  but  if  so,  we  can 
assure  the  reader  it  was  not  the  design  of  the  volume.  The 
sketches  were  written,  for  the  most  part,  by  the  personal 
friends  of  the  subjects  of  them ;  and  some  allowance  must, 
of  course,  be  made  for  the  partialities  of  friendship.  This 
being  granted,  we  do  not  hesitate  to  express  our  belief  that 
they  are  all  faithful  portraits,  and  valuable  contributions  to 
our  religious  biography.  Going  back  to  the  heroic  age  of 
American  Methodism,  and  tracing  its  rise  and  progress,  as 
connected  with  the  operations  of  its  venerable  pioneers  in 
the  South  and  South-west,  they  will  be  of  no  small  value 
to  the  future  historian  of  the  Church.  It  is  hoped  that 
the  record  of  their  labors  will  quicken  the  zeal  of  those  who 
have  entered  into  them;  and  the  memorial  of  their  godly 
lives  will  induce  many  of  their  spiritual  descendants  to 
"  admire"  the  "  portraits,"  "  nor  stop  to  admire,  but  imitate 
and  live." 

In  point  of  literary  execution,  as  well  as  in  regard  to  the 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

subjects  of  the  sketches,  there  is,  of  course,  a  considerable 
disparity:  this  is  the  more  observable,  as  the  editorial  pre- 
rogative has  been  exercised  as  sparingly  as  might  be  in 
preparing  them  for  the  press.  The  variety  of  style,  it  is 
thought,  will  add  interest  to  the  volume. 

The  publishers  made  great  efforts  to  obtain  a  sketch  of 
one  minister  from  every  Conference  in  the  Connection,  and 
delayed  the  publication  for  this  purpose ;  but  we  regret  to 
say  they  have  been  disappointed.  Several  honored  names 
that  were  on  our  list  have  been  consequently  omitted  :  they 
may  appear  in  a  future  volume,  should  the  present  be 
received  with  favor. 

Each  sketch  would  have  been  accompanied  with  a  por- 
trait of  its  subject,  if  it  could  have  been  procured ;  but  in 
many  cases  this  was  impossible.  The  engravings  which 
are  inserted  are  considered  as  good  likenesses  as  our  artists 
could  execute  from  the  best  portraits  we  were  able  to 
procure. 

W$z  3BWior. 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  15,  1858. 


wgr a^tical  ^fatt\t%. 


FRANCIS   ASBURY. 

BY    WILLIAM    M.    WIGHTMAN,    D.  D. 

Francis  Asbury  landed  in  Philadelphia,  October  27,  1771. 
He  was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  his  native  place  being  a  few 
miles  from  Birmingham.  Just  two  years  previously,  Richard 
Boardman  and  Joseph  Pilmoor  had  landed  at  Gloucester 
Point,  six  miles  below  Philadelphia.  They  were  the  first 
missionaries  sent  by  Mr.  Wesley  to  the  American  Colonies. 
Francis  Asbury  and  Richard  Wright  made  up  the  second 
missionary  supply. 

Application  was  subsequently  made  to  Mr.  Wesley  to  send 
Joseph  Benson  to  the  American  continent.  Providentially, 
as  it  now  appears,  this  was  not  done.  Mr.  Benson  was  one 
of  the  most  eminent  of  the  lay  preachers  in  Wesley's  Con- 
nection— a  man  of  literary  tastes  and  fine  abilities.  He 
would  no  doubt  have  made  his  mark  in  New  York,  Phila- 
delphia, or  Baltimore.  But  his  position  would  necessarily 
have  made  Asbury's  subordinate.  He  could  never  have 
done  Asbury's  work. 

The  number  of  Methodists  in  America  in  1771  was  less 

(ii) 


12  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

than  600.  They  were  found  principally  in  the  cities  of 
Philadelphia  and  New  York.  Three  yean  before  Asburys 
arrival,  namely,  in  October,  17G8,  the  first  house  of  worship 
erected  by  the  Methodists  was  built  in  John  street,  New  STork, 
and  dedicated  by  Mr.  Embury,  a  local  preacher,  and  an  im- 
migrant from  Ireland.  It  was  »»0  feet  by  42,  and  took  the 
place  of  the  "  rigging-loft"  in  William  street,  where  the  little 
soeiety  of  Mvthodista  had  held  their  meetings  at  the  be- 
ginning. Mr.  Embury  preached  the  firsl  Methodist  sermon 
ever  delivered  on  the  continent.  It  was  in  his  own  house  in 
New  York,  in  1766,  and  his  congregation  was  made  up  of 
five  hearers. 

Thus,  sharply  defined,  as  to  time,  place,  and  circumstance, 
was  the  rise  of  Methodism  in  this  country.  Small  enough! 
But  there  was  vitality  in  the  germ:  it  has  in  less  than  a  cen- 
tury overrun  the  land.  We  are  now  to  trace  the  leading 
human  instrumentality  in  this  prodigious  developmenl — the 
grandest  Christianity  has  made  since  the  times  of  the 
apostles. 

The  year  after  Asbury's  arrival,  he  was  appointed  by  Mr. 
Wesley  general  assistant;  by  virtue  of  which  office  he  was 
to  exercise  a  supervision  over  all  the  societies  and  preachers. 
Thus  he  became  the  prominent  leader,  and  his  oversight  and 
labors  were  coextensive  with  the  young  but  growing  com- 
munity of  societies.  At  this  early  period  their  affairs  were 
managed  at  quarterly  meetings. 

In  1773,  Messrs.  Rankin  and  Shadford  were  sent  from  Eng- 
land as  an  additional  supply  of  preachers;  and  as  Mr.  Ran- 
Kin  had  been  several  years  longer  in  the  travelling  ministry 
than  Mr.  Asbury,  he  was  appointed  by  Wesley  general  as- 
sistant, in  the  place  of  the  latter. 

In  July,  1773,  the  first  Conference  was  convened  and  held 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  13 

its  sessions  in  Philadelphia.  Ten  travelling  preachers  were 
stationed  at  this  Conference ;  and  the  numbers  in  society  were 
reported  at  1100.  Mr.  Asbury  was  appointed  to  Baltimore, 
but  his  ministry  was  not  confined  to  that  city.  He  travelled 
extensively  throughout  Maryland,  preaching  and  forming  so- 
cieties. 

The  second  Conference  was  held  in  Philadelphia,  May  25th 
of  the  next  year,  and  seven  American -born  preachers  were 
admitted  on  trial.  This  brought  the  number  of  travelling 
preachers  to  seventeen,  and  the  number  of  members  had  in- 
creased to  2073. 

The  new  chief,  Rankin,  was  a  Scotchman,  a  rigid  disciplin- 
arian, inclined  to  be  arbitrary  in  his  rule,  and  withal,  a  some- 
what poor  preacher.  He  did  not  exactly  understand  the 
American  character,  and  Asbury  found  it  necessary  to  ex- 
postulate with  him  in  respect  to  his  occasional  bearing  and 
measures.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, he  and  the  other  British  preachers,  except  Asbury,  left 
the  country  and  returned  home. 

Asbury  had  weighed  the  matter  well,  and  made  up  his 
mind  to  give  up  his  native  country  and  identify  his  fortunes 
with  those  of  American  Methodism.  This  course  entailed 
perils  as  well  as  privations.  Wesley  had  published  a  pamph- 
let against  the  revolt  of  the  Colonies,  and  his  preachers  in 
America  could  not  fail  to  be  subjected  to  popular  odium. 
Asbury  was  known  to  be  one  of  these  preachers :  his  col- 
leagues had  gone  back  to  England ;  one  of  them,  Rodda,  had 
been  detected  in  circulating  the  king's  proclamation  on  his 
circuit:  it  was  no  violent  presumption,  under  the  circum- 
stances, that  the  Methodists  might  be  disaffected  toward  the 
cause  of  American  independence.  And  persecution  was  the 
natural  result.     Some  of  the  native-born  preachers  were  im- 


14  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

prisoned,  some  beaten  with  brutal  severity,  and  their  little 
flocks  scattered.  In  this  Btate  of  things,  Mr.  Asbury  found 
himself  compelled  to  Leave  Maryland  and  take  refuge  in  Dela- 
ware, where,  in  the  hospitable  family  of  Judge  White,  he 
found  protection  and  the  kindest  treatment. 

In  March,  177s,  this  period  of  comparative  inaction  com- 
menced. In  the  latter  part  of  the  ensuing  year,  having  been 
elected  general  assistant  mice  more,  he  resumed  his  itinerant 
labors,  which  extended,  in  1780,  as  Gar  Bouth  as  North  Caro- 
lina. 

During  the  year  just  specified,  his  personal  influence,  judi- 
cious measures,  and  address,  succeeded  in  arresting  an  in- 
cipient Bchism,  occasioned  by  an  earnest  desire  on  the  part 
of  the  societies  and  preachers  in  Virginia  to  have  the  Bacra- 
ments  administered.  The  Methodists  had  previously  held  a 
quasi  connection  with  the  Episcopal  Church,  which,  in  ante- 
revolutionary  times,  was  pari  of  the  English  Establishment. 
One  of  the  results  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was 
to  dissolve  the  Episcopal  Establishment;  and  tins  left  the 
members  of  the  Methodist  societies  without  any  resource  in 
the  matter  of  the  ordinances.  This  want  the  Virginia 
brethren  undertook  to  supply.  However  laudable  the  de- 
sign, the  action  was  undoubtedly  premature.  The  interposi- 
tion of  Asbury  led  to  the  suspension  of  a  movement  which 
must  have  hazarded,  if  not  ended,  the  unity  of  Methodism. 
The  process  of  disintegration  was  effectually  arrested. 

In  1783,  the  war  with  Great  Britain  closed.  It  had  en- 
grossed the  public  mind,  and  turned  into  political  and  mili- 
tary directions  the  course  of  public  thought.  But  now  the 
independence  of  the  United  States  was  acknowledged  by  the 
mother-country.  The  beneficial  effects  of  peace  soon  began 
to  show  themselves  in  the  enlarged  circle  of  religious  opera- 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  15 

tions  opened  to  the  preachers,  and  in  an  accession  to  the  so- 
cieties of  nearly  2000  members  during  the  year  1784. 

The  time  was  come  for  the  organization  of  a  church. 
There  were  under  Asbury's  oversight  83  preachers,  and  about 
15,000  members.  We  have  traced  the  growth  of  American 
Methodism  from  its  embryo  state  in  1766.  In  less  than 
twenty  years,  it  had  reached  a  point  at  which  the  organic  form 
took  its  proper  shape,  self-developed  from  the  energy  of  the 
life  that  was  in  it.  The  expression  of  the  combined  elements 
of  connectionalism,  itinerancy,  and  general  superintendency, 
was  Episcopacy. 

Methodism  began  with  religion  in  the  heart.  Its  grand 
appeal  was  to  the  individual  conscience.  It  delivered  the 
testimony  of  the  gospel  with  all  possible  stress :  "  Repent- 
ance toward  God,  and  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
It  sought  to  bring  men  from  darkness  to  light,  from  sin  to 
holiness.  This  was  its  first  business ;  and  this  it  did  without 
ordained  ministers,  without  ordinances  save  the  "glorious 
gospel  of  the  blessed  God,"  without  churches,  and  starting 
from  a  "rigging -loft"  as  its  point  of  departure.  The  only 
aid  it  received  in  money  was  a  donation  of  .£50  from  the 
English  Conference.  For  the  first  eighteen  years,  it  had  not 
among  its  lay-preachers  a  single  man  of  profound  learning  or 
extraordinary  mental  accomplishments.  It  was  encountered 
at  its  outset  by  the  commotions  of  a  Revolution :  its  cradle 
was  rocked  by  civil  storm  and  tempest.  "Who  can  fail  to  see 
that  its  strength  stood  in  its  religion  ?  This  was  its  differentia, 
its  essential  characteristic.  Beginning  with  the  religion  of 
the  heart,  it  began  from  within  and  worked  outward — as 
genuine  Christianity  always  does.  The  central  functions,  the 
vital  forces  of  the  system  being  in  healthful  play,  it  threw 
itself,  not  by  mechanical  force  from  without,  but  by  spon- 


16  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

taneous  energies  from  within,  into  those  forms  of  organic  life 
which  were  the  visible  extension  and  manifestation  of  Church- 
life,  in  polity,  discipline,  and  sacraments.  This  is  the  philo- 
sophy of  Methodist  orders.  To  state  the  case  fairly  and  plainly  • 
is  a  sufficient  vindication  ;  and  to  the  founders  of  the  Ameri- 
can Methodist  Church  we  may  apply  justly  the  fine  remark 
of  an  historian  in  reference  to  the  founders  of  the  American 
nation:  "The  result  of  their  labors  is  eulogy  enough:  their 
best  apology  is  to  tell  the  story  exactly  as  it  was." 

"  Dispassionately  Looked  at,"  says  Isaac  Taylor,  "  Wesleyan 
Methodism  did  not  so  much  violate,  as  it  rendered  an  homage 
to,  the  principle  of  Chun-h  order;  for  if  it  broke  in  upon 
things  constituted  with  a  violence  that  threatened  to  over- 
throw whatever  might  obstruct  its  course,  it  presently 
emerged  from  its  own  confusion,  and  stood  fortli  as  a  finished 
pattern  of  organization,  and  an  eminent  example  of  the  pre- 
valence and  supremacy  of  rules.  The  enlightened  adherents 
of  ecclesiastical  institutions  might  well  persuade  themselves 
to  set-  in  Methodism,  not  as  they  are  wont,  a  horrible  Vandal- 
ism, but  the  most  emphatic  recognition  that  has  ever  been 
made  of  the  very  core  of  Church  principles,  namely,  that 
Christianity  cannot  subsist,  does  not  develop  its  genuine 
powers,  (longer  than  for  a  moment,)  apart  from  an  ecclesiasti- 
cal organization  ;  and  this  seems  to  mean  nothing  less  than  a 
well-compacted  hierarchical  system." 

AYlien  urgent  representations  were  made  to  "Wesley,  upon 
the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle,  of  the  necessity  that 
existed  for  a  regularly-organized  ministry  among  the  Ameri- 
can societies,  his  former  scruple-  immediately  gave  way.  The 
American  Colonies  were  an  independent  Republic — the 
Bishop  of  London's  control  in  the  United  States  was  for  ever 
ended — the  field  was  clear — no  man's  right,  assumed  or  real, 


FRANCIS    ASBURT.  17 

was  invaded  by  the  organization  of  a  Methodist  Church  in 
the  United  States:  then,  as  the  founder  and  legislator  of 
the  Methodist  body  in  Europe  and  America,  he  adopted  for 
the  American  societies  the  primitive  form  of  Church  organ- 
ization, an  Episcopacy  jure  humano,  with  the  orders  of  Elders 
and  Deacons. 

In  this  affair,  due  respect  was  paid  to  the  important  prin- 
ciple of  the  ministerial  transmission  of  Christian  ordinances 
and  ministrations — Francis  Asbury  having  been  solemnly 
"set  apart"  by  the  imposition  of  the  hands  of  those  who 
themselves  had  been  ordained ;  while  at  the  same  time  the 
whole  transaction  waged  war  to  the  knife  with  the  Romish 
dogma  of  apostolico-succession  ;  since  "Wesley  and  the  Eng- 
lish Presbyters  who  ordained  Coke  Bishop,  were  themselves 
only  Presbyters  of  the  Anglican  Church. 

In  the  first  point  of  view  just  referred  to,  it  will  be  observed 
that  while  the  call  to  the  holy  office  is  primarily  the  work  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  the  recognition  of  this  inward  call,  and  the 
formal  investiture  of  ministerial  functions,  comes  from  the 
existing  ministry.  The  23d  Article  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land expresses  the  Protestant  doctrine  on  the  subject:  "It  is 
not  lawful  for  any  man  to  take  upon  himself  the  office  of 
public  preaching,  or  ministering  the  sacraments  in  the  con- 
gregation, before  he  is  lawfully  called  and  sent  to  execute 
the  same."  The  Confessions  of  the  Reformed  Continental 
Churches  teach  the  same  doctrine.  One  of  the  special  pre- 
rogatives of  the  ministry,  then,  by  general  consent,  is  "to 
examine  and  authenticate  the  qualifications  of  those  who  are 
to  succeed  them,  and  to  set  them  apart  to  their  office  by  the 
imposition  of  hands."  In  Episcopal  Churches,  this  formal 
"  setting  apart"  is  committed  to  the  chief  ministers — Bishops, 
who  in  ordaining  act  as  the  organs  of  the  Church. 


18  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

In  the  second  point  of  view,  Asbury'a  consecration  to  tlie 
Episcopal  office  proceeded  on  the  ground  that  Episcopacy  is 
not  a  ministerial  order  j  Divine  prescription, 

of  immutable  obligation,  and  clothed  with  powers  emanating 
directly  from  God,  the  channel  of  Christ's  covenanted  grt 
and  therefore  indispensable  to  the  existence  of  a  Church; 
lint  an  order  jur  .  originating  in  the  necessities  of 

mnectional  body  of  ministers  and  members,  and  holding 
the  exclusive  right  of  ordaining  by  commission  from  the 
Church.    For  tlii- ./'//■-'  -  claim,  the  precedent  and 

practice  of  primitive  Christianity  may  1"-  adduced.  For  the 
jun  Di  '  ■  right,  no  solitary  passage  of  Scripture  can  1"' 
pleaded.  The  papal  theory  alone  is  consistent  on  this  point: 
the  visible  Church  is  a  mediator  between  man  and  God,  the 
impersonation  of  Christ,  and  a  depository  of  grace,  sacra- 
mental union  with  which  alone  gives  us  ace  Lvation: 

the  ministry  is  a  priestfa 1,  its  powers  having  come  down 

by  perpetual  derivation  from  the  i:  the  instrument  of 

transmission  is  the  "  sacrament  of  orders,"  which  is  intrusted 
exclusively  to  the  Land-;  of  a  Bishop.  This  sacrament  of 
orders  impresses  an  "indelible character"  upon  the  recipient, 
and  confers  sacerdotal  grace  for  the  performance  of  Bacerdotal 
office.  Apart  from  the  virtue  of  this  w-  sacrament  of  ord 
there  can  be  no  true  sacraments,  nor  is  there  any  absolution 
in  tin'  absence  of  a  priest.  There  is  no  legitimate  pri  \ 
therefore,  without  a  Bishop :  and  consequently  no  valid  <  Ihris- 
tianity  outside  of  this  apostolico-succession.  Thia  ia  a  theory 
which  <»ne  can  understand.  It  is  consistent  as  well  as  plain. 
It  lacks  but  one  thing:  it  is  not  true! 

T<>  thia  theory,  premises,  and  conclusion,  Methodism  gives 
a  distinct,  unmistakable,  utter  refutation.  It  furnishes  the 
demonstration  that  the  spirit  and  lit'.'  of  Christianity,  the 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  19 

birthright  and  blessing  of  true  inward  religion,  is  to  be  found 
outside  of  this  pseudo-  sacerdotal  system  of  men  and  sacra- 
ments. It  lias  a  priest,  the  "great  High-Priest,"  no  more  to 
be  exclusively  appropriated  by  a  single  class  of  religionists, 
than  the  light  and  warmth  of  the  sun.  It  has  a  sacrifice — 
that  "once  offered" — a  sacrifice  partaking  of  Divine  perfec- 
tion, wanting  nothing  to  supplement  lis  efficacy;  unlimited 
in  its  power  to  save,  and  undiminished  in  the  fulness  of  its 
merit  through  all  generations  of  the  world,  and  down  to  the 
end  of  time.  Any  other  priest,  any  other  sacrifice,  is  a  grand 
impertinence.  "What  need  have  we  of  other  sacerdotal  offices 
when  our  High-Priest  is  "  able  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost 
that  come  unto  God  by  him,  seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make 
intercession  for  them."  But  the  sacerdotal  character  elimi- 
nated, then  it  is  matter  of  not  the  slightest  consequence 
whether  the  minister  of  Christ  can  trace  his  genealogy  to 
Linus,  Anacletus,  or  Peter.  His  call  to  the  ministry  of  re- 
conciliation is  made  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  office  of  the 
existing  ministry  is  merely  to  verify  that  call  and  countersign 
his  title. 

Francis  Asbury  was  ordained  Deacon,  Elder,  and  Bishop 
at  the  Christmas  Conference  in  1784.  To  the  Episcopal  office 
he  was  elected  by  the  unanimous  suffrage  of  the  Conference, 
and  with  the  hearty  consent  of  the  laity  throughout  the  Con- 
nection of  societies.  This  Connection  now  becomes  a  Church, 
there  being  a  regularly  constituted  Episcopacy  to  set  apart 
preachers  duly  recommended  by  an  Annual  Conference,  and 
ordained  ministers  to  administer  the  ordinances  of  God's 
house.  The  historians  of  the  United  States  are  too  much 
occupied  with  the  story  of  diplomatic  affairs,  treaties,  cur- 
rency questions,  articles  of  confederation,  and  the  like,  to 
notice  this  Christmas  Conference,  or  to  bestow  a  line  on  the 


BIOGRAPniCALSKETCMIl 

principal  figure  in  the  group  of  pretensionlesa  preachers  con- 
vened in  Baltimore.  History  has  plenty  of  "patriotic  ronge" 
to bedanb  men  whose  element  was  war,  and  pinny  of  tinsel 
for  small  statesmen,  fourth-rate  orators,  and  petty  traffickers 
in  politics.  It  ignores  the  existence  of  a  man  whose  life  for 
nearly  half  a  century  was  devoted  exclusively  t<>  a  manly, 
earnest,  and  most  successful  movement,  telling  directly  and 
powerfully  upon  the  foundation -principles  <»t*  national  and 
social  well-hcing — upon  the  intellectual  and  moral  prog] 
of  vasl  masses  of  the  American  people.  His  witness  is  with 
God,  and  his  record  on  high.  To  have  done  things  worthy 
to  be  written  in  history  more  than  compensates  a  truly  great 
man  for  the  omission  of  his  name-  in  historic  records. 

By  way  of  comparing  dates,  it  may  be  worth  while  to  men- 
tion, that  while  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Clmivh  was  organ- 
ized December  25,  L784,  in  the  same  year  overtures  were 
made  to  Franklin  in  Paris  by  the  Pope's  nuncio  on  the  bud- 
jecl  of  appointing  a  Bishop  or  "Vicar- Apostolic  for  the  United 
j;  to  which  Congress  replied  that  they  had  nothing  to 
do  with  a  subject  purely  ecclesiastical.  In  1786,  the  Pope 
appointed  John  ( larroU,  of MarylandjVicar- Apostolic,  who  was 
subsequently  consecrated  Bishop  of  Baltimore.  In  1789,  a 
General  Convention  of  Episcopalians  was  held,  at  which  the 
constitution  of  the  new  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  which 
had  been  projected  at  two  previous  conventions,  was  ratified 
and  completed,  Bishops  White  and  Provoost  having  been 
previously  ordained  by  the  English  Bishops.  In  1788,  the 
Presbyterians  arranged  their  Church -government  on  a  na- 
tional basis,  the  Synod  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania 
having  been  divided  into  four  Synods,  delegates  from  which 
annually  met  in  a  General  Assembly.  It  may  he  added  that 
there  were  at  that  time   nine  colleges   in  the  Unite 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  21 

of  wliich  three  were  controlled  by  the  Episcopalians,  three 
by  Congregationalists,  and  one  each  by  the  Presbyterians, 
by  the  Eeformed  Dutch  Church,  and  by  the  Baptists. 

On  the  27th  day  of  December,  1784,  Asbury  was  conse- 
crated Bishop.  The  Conference  adjourned  on  the  3d  of 
January ;  and  on  the  5th,  he  inaugurated  his  Episcopal  min- 
istrations by  riding  on  horseback  fifty  miles  through  frost 
and  snow.  His  face  was  southward,  and  he  was  making  his 
first  visit  to  Charleston. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  he  reached  Georgetown,  S.  C, 
where  he  was  kindly  received.  The  next  day  he  preached 
there,  and  the  word  of  God  was  carried  with  power  to  the 
heart  of  Mr.  "Wayne,  a  nephew  of  General  A.  "Wayne,  a  dis- 
tinguished American  officer.  Mr.  Wayne  immediately  joined 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  thus  the  foundation  for  a  society 
in  Georgetown  was  laid. 

On  the  26th  he  reached  Charleston,  having  preached  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  sermons  during  the  journey  from  Baltimore. 
This  visit  of  Bishop  Asbury  was  the  introduction  of  Method- 
ism to  Charleston.  The  earliest  result  of  it  was  the  conver- 
sion of  Mr.  Wells,  the  gentleman  who  had  hospitably  enter- 
tained the  Bishop,  to  whom  he  bore  a  letter  of  introduction 
from  Mr.  Wayne.  Thus  was  formed  the  nucleus  of  a  Me- 
thodist Church  in  the  Queen  City  of  the  South.  Twelve 
years  afterward,  during  one  of  Asbury's  visits  to  Charleston, 
Mr.  Wells  died  in  the  faith  of  Jesus,  testifying  with  his  last 
words  that  "  God  was  with  him."  His  funeral-sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Bishop,  who  described  him  as  a  truly  reli- 
gious man,  "  a  gentleman  of  spirit  and  sentiment,  and  fine 
feelings,  a  faithful  friend  to  the  poor,  and  warmly  attached  to 
the  ministers  of  the  gospel." 

Bishop  Asbury   made   thirty- seven    subsequent  visits   to 


BIOQ  HA  I'll  If  a  L    BE  BTCH  I      , 

Charleston — a  Bad  illustrative  of  tin-  deep  interest  he  took  in 

spread  of  Methodism  at  I  th. 

Among   the   earli<  >na   of  the   writer  of  I 

tolerably  vivid  im  l  of  a  venerable  old  man, 

shrunk   and   wrinkL  and    Bhoe- 

in  dark  drab,  who  a  child's 

ied  stern  bul  for  the  gentlem  as  of  his  \ 
and  manner  toward  the  little  people.     It  was  the  custom  of 
my  honored  and  sainl  ber,  no  doubl  at  the  instance  of 

the  Bishop  himself  to  Bend  her  children  to  pay  him  a  visit 
whenever  h<  to  the  city.    T'  waa  made  in 

pany  with  my  two  younger  brothers.     The  Bishop  had 

e  apples  <>n  tin-  mantelpiece  <■!'  th*'  chamber  where  the 
little  group  <'t'  youngsters,  the  < 

old,  were  introdu  ed,      \  i  talk  suitable  to 

our  years  and  capacity,  the  venerable  man  put  his  hands  <>n 
our  heads,  one  after  another,  with  a  solemn  prayer  ami  b 
ing,  ami  dismissed  us,  giving  the  largest  apple  to  tin-  smallest 
child,  in  a  mam,  upon  me  a  life -long  impression. 

I  remember,  arried  into  Trinity  Church, 

placed  upon  a  high  Btool,  and  with  trembling  voici 
livered  his  li  y  there.    An  incident  trifling  in  itself 

may  powerfully  illustrate  character;  and  tin-  foregoing  b] 
th«-  attention  which  the  Chief  of  a  Church,  extending  fV<>m 
Canada  t<>  <  .  with  cares  innumerable  occupying  his 

thoughts,  in  age  and  extreme  feebL  omed  to 

pay  to  childn  n — !  .     This,  too,  not  bo  much  on  ac- 

count of  any  extraordinary  fondness  for  children,  but 
in  these  little  ones  he  Baw  future  recruits   for  Ch 

ired  to  have  religious  impr<  made  upon  them   in 

their  earliest    years.     His   attentions  won   their  confid< 
and  indirectly  but  powerfully  inci         L  his  1   Id   :      □  the 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  23 

affections  of  parents.  He  lived  to  see  multitudes  of  children's 
children  who  could  remember  with  solemn  joy  his  interest 
in  them,  his  advices  and  prayers. 

His  frequent  visits  to  Charleston  developed  another  re- 
markable trait  in  his  character — his  attention  to  the  religious 
welfare  of  the  colored  population.  The  blacks  had  access  to 
him  at  all  times.  There  was  soon  established  a  flourishing 
society  of  them.  The  Bishop  always  held  society-meetings 
for  them ;  explained  the  principles  of  Christianity  to  them ; 
enforced  the  usages  of  the  Discipline ;  and  gave  them  special 
exhortations  to  faithfulness  and  perseverance  in  a  religious 
profession.  "When  the  leading  men  among  them  went  to  see 
him  at  the  parsonage,  he  always  prayed  with  them  when 
about  to  retire.  The  result  of  this  interest  in  the  colored 
people  was  an  unbounded  influence  over  them  for  good,  and 
the  establishment  and  perpetuation  of  the  best  society  of  the 
kind  perhaps  in  the  world. 

It  was  at  one  of  his  latest  visits  to  Charleston  that  Punch 
came  on  foot  from  the  neighborhood  of  Georgetown  to  see 
the  apostolic  Bishop.  One  can  readily  conceive  that  a  man 
like  Asbury  might  feel  a  throb  of  joy,  worthy  of  an  angel's 
bosom,  as  he  listened  to  the  artless  story  of  the  faithful  negro, 
and  learned  how  a  casual  ten  minutes'  talk  by  the  roadside, 
twenty  odd  years  before,  had  led  to  the  conversion  of  Punch, 
and  through  him  to  that  of  many  of  his  fellow-servants  who 
had  never  seen  the  face  of  a  white  preacher.  If  ever  a  man 
inherited  the  blessedness  of  them  who  "sow  beside  all 
waters,"  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  man.  Bishop 
Asbury  never  set  foot  on  the  soil  of  Africa,  but  an  innumera- 
ble company  of  the  children  of  Ham  will  rise  up  at  the  last 
day  to  bless  him. 

I  must  make  honorable  mention  of  a  certain  Rembert  Hall, 


24  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

in  Sumter  District,  8.  C,  which  is  frequently  named  in  the 
Bishop's  Journal.  Tin-  proprietor  of  this  estate,  James  Etem- 
bert, Esq.,  was  a  Methodist  gentleman,  of  large  property, 
who  was  strongly  attached  to  Asbnry.  There  was  a  room  in 
his  mansion  that  was  appropriated  to  the  Bishop's  use.  Here 
he  commonly  spent  a  week  during  his  annual  visitation  to 
South  Carolina.  It  was  a  sweet  haven,  where  the  weather- 
beaten  sailor  found  quiet  waters,  and   bright   skies,  ami  a 

ii  of  repose.  Here  he  brought  ap  his  Journal,  wrote  his 
letters,  and  lectured  of  an  evening  t<>  tin-  family  and  visitors 
ami  crowds  of  servants.  Mrs.  Remberl  was  a  lady  of  the 
kindesl  heart:  Bhe  Dot  only  had  the  Bishop's  apartmenl  al- 
ways ready  ami  commodiously  furnished,  but  every  year  her 

stress  made  ap  for  him  a  full  supply  of  limn,  which, 
tly  Ironed,  awaited  tin-  arrival  of  tin-  Bishop.  Etembert 
Hall,  in  my  time  on  tin-  Sumter  Circuit,  1881,  was  occupied 
by  Caleb  Etembert,  Esq.,  hi-  honored  Gather  and  mother 
having  long  before  gone  t<>  heaven.  Mr.  Ji.  subsequently 
removed  to  Marengo  county,  Ala. 

The  reader  has  dow  looked  at  one  of  the  green  Bpots  in  the 
journeyings  of  our  Methodist  apostle.  The  Bishop's  usual 
route,  after  the  Western  Conference  was  established,  was  to 
strike  the  waters  of  Pigeon  River  or  Eolston,  in  Easl  Ten- 
:  come  up  along  the  French  Broad  to  Buncombe 
C.  II.,  and,  turning  south-east,  cross  the  mountains  at  Bwa- 
niuo  or  Mill-'  Gap;  or,  south-west,  at  Saluda  Gap.  In  t 
time-,  this  latter  gap  was  the  Bteepest  of  all  mountain  cross- 
ings in  the  Bishop's  continental  tours.  In  the  winter  it  was 
dangerous.  There  were  no  turnpikes  over  these  mountains 
in  those  days.  The  perils  of  the  mountains  passed,  then 
succeeded  the  dangers  of  high  waters.  After  getting  through 
the  mud  of  the  upper  country,  he  had  the  swamps  of  the  low 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  25 

country  to  encounter.  Every  winter  found  him  in  South 
Carolina  and  in  Georgia  after  Methodism  had  found  foot- 
hold there.  Many  of  his  tours  of  visitation  at  that,  season 
of  the  year  were  made  in  the  worst  kind  of  weather.  He 
seldom  went  through  the  country  without  being  thoroughly 
soaked  with  rain,  or  having  to  swim  some  river  or  creek. 
Most  commonly  his  rides  were  from  early  breakfast,  without 
intermission,  until  evening — sometimes  nine  and  ten  o'clock 
at  night.  "When  some  considerate  hostess  furnished  him 
with  a  lunch,  he  would  halt  and  dine  al  fresco. 

Speaking  of  lunching  reminds  me  of  an  incident  connected 
with  one  of  these  out- door  repasts.  The  Bishop,  accom- 
panied by  one  or  two  preachers,  had  taken  the  road  at  the 
close  of  a  Conference  in  Charleston.  About  dinner-time, 
they  came  in  sight  of  one  of  the  old  parish  churches,  a  vene- 
rable ante-revolutionary  edifice.  Riding  into  the  grove  which 
surrounded  it,  Bishop  Asbury  proposed  that  they  should  halt 
and  lunch.  The  little  party  dismounted  and  secured  their 
horses.  The  Bishop  then  wondered  if  they  could  get  into 
the  church.  This  was  easily  effected.  "We  will  go  into 
God's  house  and  have  prayers,"  said  the  Bishop,  leading  the 
way.  He  ascended  the  pulpit,  and  engaged  in  prayer.  The 
spirit  of  grace  and  supplication  was  poured  upon  him  in  full 
measure.  His  intercessions  rose  into  vehement  pleadings 
with  God ;  .and  he  had  boldness  to  enter  into  the  holiest  by 
the  blood  of  Christ.  The  glory  of  God  seemed  to  fill  the 
house,  and  the  refreshment  of  a  special  visitation  from  on 
high  was  realized  by  them  all.  The  Bishop's  prayer  had 
brought  them  to  heaven's  gate ;  and  they  felt  that  they  had 
indeed  come  to  the  city  of  the  living  God — to  an  innumerable 
company  of  angels,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  per- 
fect.    After  retiring   from   the    church,  "Well,"   said  the 


26  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Bishop,  "God  has  graciously  fed  our  souls  with  the  bread  of 
heaven — let  us  take  some  refreshment  for  the  body."  Long 
years  after  this  little  incident  had  occurred,  one  of  the  party 
;  to  me,  with  deep  emotion.  It  is  a  touching  revela- 
tion of  character.  How  much  and  how  well  this  man 
pra  Sod  would  have  as — to  pray  with  all 

tin-  hear!  and  Btrength,  with  the  reason  and  the  will,  to  be- 
lieve vividly  thai  God  will  listen  to  our  voice  through  Christ, 
and  verily  do  tin-  thing  1m-  pleaseth  thereupon,  has  been  pro- 
nounced the  '  achievement  of  the  Christian's  warfare 
on  earth. 

In  Asbury'a  religious  character  devotional  Venetian  was  the 
master-trait.  It  occupied  tin'  place  of  honor  in  all  the  habi- 
tudes of  his  life.  Wherever  he  stopped  fora  night,  he  prayed. 
Wherever  he  ate  dinner,  he  closed  tin1  meal  with  prayer. 
"Whenever  In'  visited  a  fri<  of  course  whenever  he 

was  with  tin'  rick  or  dying,  he  prayed.    At  the  approach  of 

1    inferenci  .  Lai  prayer  for  Divine  guida 

p being  shut  up  in  a  town  or  city  fora  week,  he  pined 
for  the  solitude  <>t*  the  old  woods — God's  first  temples — that 
he  might,  undisturbed,  pour  out  his  soul  in  prayer.  He  re- 
ceived  once  an  anonymous  letter  of  abuse:  he  had  jusl  c 
from  his  knees  in  his  closet — he  forthwith  returned  to  his 
knees.  How  harmless  fell  the  shafts  upon  this  man  of  God 
vp,,,,  ],:.<  knees!  On  the  road,  he  was  accustomed  to  pray  ten 
minutes  out  of  every  hour.  In  a  word,  the  vital  element  of 
hi<  aoul  was  prayer.  lie  preached  well;  he  counselled  ably; 
h<-  planned  with  the  sagacity  and  Bweep  of  a  great  general; 
hut  he  prayed  best  of  all.  This  habitual  devout  communion 
with  God  gave  stability,  serenity,  loftiness  to  his  spirit.  It 
pul  him  in  direct  connection  with  Omnipotence.  It  placed 
at  his  command  the  resources  of  God  in  Christ.     It  enabled 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  27 

him,  taking  hold  of  the  charter  of  gospel  promises,  to  move 
God!  It  clothed  the  whole  man  with  an  authority  which  no 
ecclesiastical  titles  could  pretend  to.  Intellectual  greatness 
and  mental  accomplishments  paled  before  the  commanding 
majesty  of  this  moral  glory,  reflected  in  full  beam  upon  his 
soul  from  Christ,  who  is  "the  light  and  life"  of  men. 

This  habit  of  close  and  fervent  communion  with  Grod  was 
doubtless  the  spring  of  that  amazing  and  steady  zeal  which 
bore  him  on  in  an  unparalleled  career  of  great  labors.  His 
contact  with  the  "powers  of  the  world  to  come"  gave  intense 
vividness  to  his  perception  of  the  moral  predicament  of  our 
fallen  nature  and  the  solemn  retributions  of  the  eternal  state. 
He  had  found  by  that  most  certain  of  all  proofs,  personal  ex- 
perience, that  the  gospel  is  the  power  of  God  to  salvation, 
to  every  one  that  believeth. 

In  the  order  of  the  Divine  Providence,  it  was  his  lot  to 
arrange,  from  year  to  year,  a  vast  and  complicated  machinery 
of  itinerant  ministerial  operations,  by  which  this  gospel 
might,  in  the  most  effectual  manner  possible,  be  preached 
throughout  the  United  States.  For  aggressive  force,  this 
itinerant  organization  was  the  most  effective  the  world  ever 
saw.  To  work  it,  demanded  on  the  part  of  the  ecclesiastical 
chief  the  rarest  combination  of  qualities — sagacity,  firmness, 
gentleness,  impartiality,  the  authority,  not  of  high-sounding 
titles,  but  that  won  from  "labors  more  abundant,"  from  a 
sacrifice  of  ease,  comfort,  and  the  pleasures  of  domestic  life, 
from  a  disinterestedness  so  scrupulous  and  lofty  that  the 
tongue  of  detraction  could  not  move  against  it,  and  a  zeal  so 
sustained  that  no  foe  could  question  it.  Upon  no  lower  con- 
ditions could  the  "captain  of  the  Lord's  host,"  in  that  early 
day  of  difficulty,  when  the  new  system  was  grounding  itself 
and  going  through  its  experimental  epoch,  have  maintained 


28  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

his  government.  But  he  met  the  conditions,  severe  as  they 
were.  His  daring  canvas  was  spread,  and  his  pennon  flut- 
tered  in  the  Lead  of  the  whole  squadron.  Others  had  dis- 
tricts, circuits,  and  stations:  his  circuit  was  -  <  neni. 
Eight  months'  work  for  him,  even  as  late  as  three  years  be- 
fore his  death,  was  six  thousand  miles  of  travel,  and  a  sermon 
at  nearly  every  fifty  of  them;  a  presidency  in  nine  Annual 
Conferences,  involving  the  stationing  of  near  seven  hundred 
preachers;  and  an  attendance  at  ten  camp -meetings.  In 
every  conceivable  sort  of  place  he  preached:  in  the  woods, 
in  barns,  in  sitting-rooms ;  in  court-]  storehouses,  mar- 

kets; in  College  chapels,  Representative  chambers — even  in 
bar-rooms,  and  once  in  a  playhouse!    When  he  could 
Longer  stand  to  preach,  he  sat    Was  he  not,  by  eminence,  the 
man  for  the  time  ami  country  ? 

That  country  in  his  day  began  to  embrace  the  great  W< 
era  Valley.  It  was  a  region  that  stretched  from  the  grand 
lakes  of  the  North  to  the  waters  of  tin-  tropical  gulf,  guarded 
by  mountain  ranges  right  and  left,  embracing  the  Indians' 
"bloody  ground,"  la  belle  rioiere^  and  the  mighty  "father  of 
waters."  Fourteen  populous  States  now  cover  the  region 
which  in  the  early  day  of  American  Methodism  had  just  been 
penetrated  by  the  intrepid  foot  of  the  adventurous  pioneers 
of  civilization.  Very  soon  the  Methodist  preacher  is  found 
in  these  wilds,  the  no  less  intrepid  pioneer  of  Christianity. 
In  1787,  there  is  a  circuit  in  Kentucky.  In  1801,  there  is  B 
Kentucky  District  embracing  nine  appointments,  with  Wm. 
McKendree  as  presiding  elder.  The  next  year,  there  is  a 
Western  Conference  with  two  districts,  reaching  from  the 
Miami  River  to  Natches. 

There  is  a  story  connected  with  Natchez  well  worth  listen- 
ing to.     Tohias  Gibson,  a  brother  of  the  late  Major  Gibson 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  29 

of  South  Carolina,  was  one  of  the  preachers  in  the  South 
Carolina  Conference.  After  having  filled  several  appoint- 
ments within  the  limits  of  his  own  Conference,  he  was  im- 
pressed with  a  strong  desire  to  visit  Natchez.  He  accordingly 
offered  himself  to  Bishop  Asbury  as  a  missionary,  and  was 
sent  to  plant  the  banner  of  salvation  on  the  waters  of  the 
great  Western  river,  in  1799,  eighteen  years  before  the  Mis- 
sissippi territory  was  admitted  into  the  federal  Union.  He 
set  out  from  Pedee,  his  native  spot,  and  bent  his  course 
toward  the  Cumberland  River.  For  six  hundred  miles  he 
travelled,  for  the  most  part  along  Indian  trails,  through  the 
wilderness.  Arriving  at  the  river,  he  sold  his  horse,  bought 
a  canoe,  and  embarked  with  saddle,  bridle,  and  saddle-bags, 
and  a  supply  of  provisions.  Paddling  himself  down  the 
Cumberland,  he  dropped  into  the  Ohio,  and  soon  after  reached 
the  Mississippi.  God  speed  thee,  brave-hearted  boatman! 
Neither  gold  nor  fame  is  the  prize  before  thee,  but  the  salva- 
tion of  men  for  whom  Christ  died.  Thy  frail  bark  carries 
the  gospel  to  the  frontier  outpost  of  civilized  life.  He  con- 
tinued his  solitary,  adventurous  course  down  the  great  river 
until  he  reached  Natchez.  Here  he  founded  a  Methodist 
church.  He  subsequently  made  four  land-journeys  through 
the  wilderness  lying  between  Natchez  and  the  Cumberland, 
to  procure  additional  laborers.  In  the  Minutes  of  1800, 
eighty  members  were  reported  as  the  result  of  his  ministry 
in  the  town  for  which  he  had  perilled  so  much.  Mr.  Gibson's 
heroism  was  only  surpassed  by  his  saintly  piety.  He  pro- 
fessed to  enjoy  the  blessing  of  that  "  perfect  love  which  cast- 
eth  out  fear."  His  last  sermon  was  preached  on  New-Tear's 
day,  1804 ;  and  he  rested  from  his  labors. 

"William  Burke  is  another  name  worthy  to  be  mentioned 
in  connection  with  Tobias  Gibson.    In  1804  the  Ohio  district 


30  BIOGBAPHIOAL    SKETCH!      . 

was  formed,  and   William  Burke  was  appointed   presiding 
elder,  having  travelled  several  years  previously  west  of  the 
Alleghanies.    Mr.   Milburn,  in   his  graphic   Lectnrea,  " 
Rifle,  Axe,  and  Saddle-bags,"  makes  the  following  mention 
of  him:  "B  ed  the  West  when  the  contest  with  the 

Indians  was  at  i  He  travelled  through  what  is  now 

tern  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  Tenn<  ssee,  Kentucky, 
and  Ohio.    There  was  scan  ttlemenl  in  all  this  vast 

>n  where  he  had  not  preached,  or  a  cabin  where  he  had 
no1   prayed  with  the  inmates.     S«>  poor  was  he  oftentn 
that  liis  clothes,  as  he  himself  said,  'were  patch  apon  patch, 
and  patch  above  patch,  until  the  patches  themseh 
worn  out,  and  bare-kneed,  and  bare -elbowed:'   without   a 
cenl  in  his  .  or  a  friend  I  ■  him  a  new  garment, 

he  must  needs  go  forward  in  the  Bervice  of  his  Master.    After 
three-and-tro  in  of  unremitting  toil,  having  experi- 

enced hard-hips  ami  Bufferings  beyond  description,  he  l«>>t 
his  voice,  and  was  obliged  t<>  abandon  his  vocation.    Selling 
out  his  stock  in  trade,  Baddle,  bridle,  horse,  ami   saddled, 
he  found  himself  in  in  of  two  hundred  ami  thirteen 

dollar-,  as   the   total   receipts   for  his    twenl y- three   years' 
labor." 

Bishop  Aabury  crossed  the  Alleghi  -,  pene- 

trating among  the  "  endless  mountai     .    i     the  chains  \ 
of  the  Blue  Ridge  were  formerly  called.    In  the  autumn  of 
1800  he  made,  I  think,  his  first  visit  t<>  Kentucky,  travelling 
through  Knox,  Madison,  Mercer,  ami  Washington  counti 
Returning  through  Tennessee,  he  visited  Nashville  lor  the 
iirst  time.     On  the  same  route  he  preached  in  Knoxville,  for 

first  time  also.     Ten  years  afterward,  while  attending  a 

ion  of  tin-  Western  Conference  at  Shelbyville,  he  refers 

with  exultation  to  the  open  door  set  wide  for  Methodism  in 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  31 

Mississippi.  The  preachers  laboring  in  that  new  field  could 
spare  but  one  messenger  to  the  Conference.  The  Bishop 
says  of  them :  "  They  keep  their  ground  like  soldiers  of 
Christ  and  men  of  God  who.  care  for  the  cause  and  work  of 
the  Lord."  He  had  intended  to  visit  Mississippi  in  1814,  but 
the  illness  of  Bishop  McKendree  made  it  necessary  for  him 
to  attend  the  South  Carolina  Conference. 

The  labors  and  journeys  of  Bishop  Asbury  knew  no  pause 
till  death  sealed  the  mercies  of  God  to  him,  and  completed 
the  sacrifice  which  his  whole  life  in  acts  of  faith  and  love 
had  been  rendering  up.  His  last  tour  was  through  the  South- 
ern States.  The  last  entry  made  in  his  Journal  was  at  Granby, 
S.  C,  on  the  7th  of  December.  He  passed  on  by  slow  stages 
to  the  vicinity  of  Charleston,  and  thence  to  Richmond,  Va., 
where,  on  Sunday,  March  21,  1816,  ho  preached  his  last  ser- 
mon, his  text  being,  "He  will  finish  the  work,  and  cut  it 
short  in  righteousness" — a  touchingly  appropriate  valedictory 
text  to  a  ministry  which  had  so  long  sounded  like  a  clarion- 
call  in  all  parts  of  the  land.  To  preach  this  last  sermon  he 
was  lifted  from  his  carriage  at  the  doors  of  the  church  and 
seated  on  a  small  table  in  the  pulpit.  It  had  been  his  aim  to 
get  to  Baltimore,  where  in  May  the  General  Conference  was 
to  assemble.  Leaving  Richmond,  he  reached,  after  travelling 
three  days,  the  house  of  his  friend,  Mr.  George  Arnold,  in 
Spottsylvania  county,  where  his  journeyings  terminated.  On 
the  following  Sunday,  amidst  the  kindest  attentions  of  his 
faithful  travelling  companion,  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Bond,  and  of  an 
attached  Christian  family,  he  entered  into  the  joy  of  his 
Lord.  He  was  in  the  71st  year  of  his  age ;  had  preached  in 
America  nearly  forty-five  years ;  and  exercised  the  office  of 
Bishop  for  thirty  years.  His  mortal  remains  lie  in  a  vault 
beneath  the  pulpit  of  the  Eutaw  Street  Church  in  Baltimore. 


32  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Bishop  Asbury,  as  I  conceive  of  his  intellectual  character, 

;  il  that 

"Flain,  heroic  magnitude  of  xniinl" 

which  Bhows  its  preeminence  chiefly  in  affairs.  His  prac- 
tical, Bagacious  intellect  fitted  him  admirably  for  the  task 
•verning.  I  suppose  he  had  little  of  imagination,  or  pro- 
found philosophic  insight,  or  rich  and  copious  elocution.  As 
apulpil  orator,  it  u  likely  he  was  Burpassed  by  Beveral  of  his 
contemporaries,  and  by  not  a  few  of  his  Bu/cessors.  Hi-  Ber- 
mons  were  strong,  emphatic  presentations  of  religious  truth, 
in  it-  manifold  applications — truth  verified  and  substantiated 
to  himself  not  mainly  by  the  speculative  faculty,  but  by  an 
inward  experience  of  the  Divine  life  —  by  an  act  of  bemgy 
which,  as  it  is  the  correlative,  is,  after  all,  the  grand  organ, 
of  truth.  One  can  readily  conceive  that  on  stirring  occasions 
such  a  man  could  Bpeak  of  matters  pertaining  to  the  great"' 
work  of  God  in  the  soul  with  an  authority,  pr>wer,  and  unc- 
tion which  the  mere  orator  could  never  command.  Wise, 
plain,  inartificial,  pungent,  striking  home  to  the  co*ns#ie»ec — 
these  predicates  would  perhaps  sufficiently  and  truly  sfi!*forth 
the  qualities  of  his  preaching.  Joshua  Marsden  pronounces 
Bishop  Asbury  "a  dignified,  eloquent,  and  impressive 
preacher."  It  must  be  remembered  that  his  life  was  a 
ceaseless  round  of  activities,  affording  very  little  time,  and 
less  opportunity,  for  hard,  continuous  study;  that  his  public 
engagements  precluded  the  sort  of  intellectual  drill  necessary 
to  the  formation  of  a  great  thinker;  and  that  his  acquaint- 
ance with  books  must  have  been,  of  necessity,  too  limited  to 
furnish  the  best  pabulum  of  thought.  His  forte  was  adminis- 
tration. That  was  the  prime  necessity  in  his  position,  the 
special  demand  of  the  time.     "Washington  could  not  have 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  33 

made  as  "brilliant  an  oration  as  Patrick  Ilenry :  the  latter  could 
never  have  administered  the  government  of  a  young  nation 
as  the  former  did. 

It  has  been  asserted  by  one  of  the  distinguished  ex-Presi- 
dents of  the  Wesleyan  Conference — and  the  admission  is 
remarkable,  coming  from  that  quarter — that  Bishop  Asbury 
was  in  labors  more  abundant  than  "Wesley  himself.  I  see  no 
reason  to  question  the  accuracy  of  Dr.  Bangs's  estimate, 
which  is,  that  Asbury,  during  the  forty -five  years  of  his 
ministry  in  this  county,  delivered  not  less  than  sixteen  thou- 
sand four  hundred  and  twenty-five  sermons,  besides  lectures 
and  exhortations  innumerable ;  that  he  travelled  during  the 
same  time  about  two  hundred  and  seventy  thousand  miles, 
for  the  most  part  on  the  worst  of  roads  and  on  horseback ; 
that  he  sat  in  not  less  than  two  hundred  and  twenty-four 
Annual  Conferences ;  and  ordained  more  than  four  thousand 
ministers.  This  is  a  series  of  great  labors,  to  which  I  doubt 
if  the  whole  history  of  Christianity  for  eighteen  centuries 
can  find  m^Mel.  For  him  wealth  had  no  charm,  ambition 
no  lure,  s^Pinterest  ne»  gratification.  He  was  absorbed  in 
the  grandeur  of  the  objects  of  his  ministry;  and,  with  a 
noble  simplicity  of  purpose,  gave  himself  up  fully  to  one 
idea  and^jne  work — to  carry  the  holy  fire  of  true  religion 
aipund  the  continent.  He  found  less  than  six  hundred  Me- 
thodists in  the  country  when  he  began  his  ministerial  labors : 
at  his  death,  he  left  a  flourishing  Church  in  all  parts  of  the 
land,  with  more  than  two  hundred  thousand  communicants 
in  it,  and  served  by  upwards  of  seven  hundred  travelling 
preachers,  besides  a  large  number  of  local  preachers.  In  the 
forty  years  that  have  gone  by  since  his  death,  the  number 
has  increased  to  one  million  and  a  half! 

Sydney  Smith  says  it  is  in  vain  to  talk  of  men  numerically : 
3 


34  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETC  III-. 

if  the  passions  of  a  man  are  exalted  to  a  summit  like  the 
majestic  steadiness  with  which  St.  Paul  points  out  the  single 
object  of  his  life,  and  the  unquenchable  courage  with  which 
ho  walks  toward  it,  he  is  a  thousand  men!  This  thousand- 
men  powder  was  in  the  bou]  of  Francis  Asbury.    Measuring 

stent  and  depth,  it  might  be  supposed  we  had  a  otut-tran 
man  before  us — one  who  rejoiced  in  Binews  tough  and  strong 
as  the  mountain  oak  which  Bhows  QO  weather-side  to  the 
storm.  Tt  mighl  1"'  presumed  that  Buch  tireless  application 
to  work  had  indurated  into  a  Btoical  callousness  the  native 
sympathies  of  such  a  man.  We  should  be  mistaken  in  both 
conclusions.  Bishop  Asbury  was  a  man,  if  not  of  feeble  con- 
stitution, at  Leasl  delicate;  often  sick,  often  wearied;  who 
felt  the  cold  which  he  brayed;  who  trembled  at  the  roaring 
torrent  which  he  hesitated  not  to  plunge  through;  upon 
whom  the  Bummer-heat  fell  with  oppressive  sense  of  languor; 
who  was  many  a  time  pinched  with  hunger,  when  a  crust  of 

d  would  have  been  thankfully  received.  His  Bufferings 
manifold.  But  let  it  be  well  observed  tru^fc  no  particle 
of  nnrit  was  allowed  by  the  aposth  of  AiiiericanAlethodism 
to  attach  to  these  Bufferings.  No  fanatical  asceticism,  with 
its  "righteousness  by  starvation,"  was  allowed  to  obtain  foot- 
hold among  personal  piety.  He  en- 
dured hardness  as  a  good  Boldier  of  Christ,  because  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  time  and  country  involved  the  necessity 
of  such  an  endurance,  uot  because  austerities  were  good  and 
desirable  per  se.  His  Bole  ground  of  acceptance  before 
God  was  the  merit  of  Christ  crucified,  apprehended  by  faith  ; 
and  with  that  merit,  no  lower  and  fancied  merit  of  severities 
ami  Bufferings  was  allowed  to  participate. 

Thus,  too,  he  was  kept  clear  of  the  callousness  of  spirit 
which  a  supposed  meritorious  asceticism  always  generates. 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  3d 

The  spirit  of  power  that  was  in  him  was  tempered  by.  the 
spirit  of  love ;  and  his  heart  throbbed  with  responsive  sym- 
pathy to  every  form  of  distress,  and  every  sigh  of  suffering. 
His  travels  brought  him  frequently  into  contact  with  the 
sick;  and  in  many  an  instance  he  was  not  only  a  physician 
for  the  soul,  but  for  the  body  also.  Like  an  angel  of  mercy, 
he  brought  not  only  spiritual  consolation  but  physical  relief 
to  the  distresses  of  the  poor  and  diseased.  "With  the  afflic- 
tions and  destitution  of  his  preachers,  he  sympathized  most 
tenderly.  At  the  session  of  the  "Western  Conference  in  1806, 
some  of  the  preachers  were  in  want,  and  could  not  purchase 
decent  clothes:  "So  I  parted,"  he  says,  "with  my  watch, 
my  coat,  and  my  shirt" — a  sublime  passage  in  a  Christian 
Bishop's  Journal.  Suppose  a  year's  revenue  of  my  Lord 
Bishop  of  London  had  been  at  Asbury's  control  in  that  wild 
wilderness  of  a  "Western  Conference :  the  $50,000  had  gone 
as  freely  as  "my  watch,  my  coat,  and  my  shirt." 

One  of  his  friends,  in  1800,  asked  him  to  loan  or  give  him 
,£50.  "  He  might  as  well  have  asked  me  for  Peru,"  says  the 
Bishop.  "  I  showed  him  all  the  money  I  had  in  the  world, 
about  $12,  and  gave  him  $5."  One  of  the  Georgia  preachers, 
in  1799,  had  been  ill :  the  Bishop  came  into  his  District,  and 
found  him  just  able  to  travel.  He  gave  up  to  the  convales- 
cent man  his  sulky,  and  rode  his  horse.  This  is  his  ac- 
count: "We  proceeded  down  the  Oconee  twelve  miles  to  B. 
Pope's,  after  a  heavy  siege  through  the  woods,  from  one 
plantation  to  another,  on  Brother  Blanton's  stiff-jointed  horse, 
that  I  would  only  ride  to  save  souls,  or  the  health  of  a  brother." 

The  Bishop  was  fastidious  about  having  his  portrait  painted, 
and  persisted  in  refusing  this  favor  to  his  friends.  It  was  got 
out  of  him  in  the  following  way :  At  a  session  of  the  Balti- 
more  Conference,  Bishop  Asbury  lodged   with   his    friend 


36  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

M.  Cannon,  who  was  a  merchant  tailor,  and  wealthy.  He 
Lad  to  pase  through  the  front  shop  in  entering  the  house. 
He  had  been  greatly  depressed  by  the  sail  equipment  of  many 
of  his  pi  for  the  ensuing  year.     As  he  passed  through 

the  shop,  Mr.  McCannon  Baid  to  him:  "Brother  Asbury, 
here  is  a  piece  of  black  velvet  which  T  was  thinking  I  would 
make  up  for  the  preachers,  for  some  of  them  Beem  to  be  in 
great  oeed."  "Ah,  James,"  Baid  the  Bishop,  "that  would  be 
doing  a  good  thing,  if  yoti  can  afford  it!*'  "0  yes,  I  can 
afford  it;  hut  I  exped  to  be  paid  a  good  price  for  it." 
"Price!"  said  the  Bishop;  "it"  it  is  price  you  are  after,  it  is 
not  worth  while  to  talk  any  more  aboul  it  ;"  and  was  about 
to  pass  on.  "Come,  come,  Brother  Asbury,"  said  his  friend, 
"you  can  pay  my  price,  and   be  Done  the  poorer  for  it." 

'•Why,   how    is    that'.'"    said    tin-   Bishop,      "dust    this,"   an- 

Bwered  his  friend:  "if  yon  will  sit  t < >  a  painter  foryourpor- 
trait,  I  will  give  the  niece  of  velvet  t>>  tin-  preachera,  and 
have  it  made  op  for  them  besidi  "  \h.  James,"  Baid 

Bishop,  "I  believe  you *ve  got  me  dow!"  and  passed  on  to 
the  parlor.    That  afternoon  he  gave  the  artist  a  Bitting. 

Another  illustration  of  the  tenderness  of  his  sympathies  is 
f.auid  in  the  habit  he  had  of  visiting  the  graves  of  his  de- 
ceased friends.  When  he  came  into  a  Deighborhood  where 
seme  dear  friend  whom  he  had  left  a  year  before  in  good 
health  was  ascertained  to  have  departed  this  life,  he  invaria- 
bly expressed  a  desire  to  visit  his  grave.  Tn  the  hour  of 
twilight,  he  bent  his  solitary  Bteps  toward  the  "house  of 
Bilence,"  to  hold  communion,  in  spirit,  with  the  dead.  In 
Ins  lone  musings,  he  followed  the  flight  of  the  redeemed  spirit 
to  the  land  of  light  and  love;  affection  whispered, 

"  He  is  there,  and  he  weep5?  no  more !" 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  37 

Hope  shot  across  the  narrow  defile  of  the  grave  to  the  "  ever- 
lasting home"  beyond.  Eternity  opened  to  his  view  the 
awful  and  boundless  succession  of  ages  into  which  death  in- 
troduces the  immortal  spirit;  and  the  prospect  of  everlasting 
fellowship  with  the  good — with  many  who  owned  him  as  the 
instrument  of  their  conversion  to  God — came  with  ravishing 
effect  upon  his  spirit.  What  seasons  of  fervent  prayer  must 
those  have  been  to  a  man  like  Asbury  ! 

We  have  been  tracing  the  early  history  of  Methodism  in 
this  country  while  we  have  been  following  the  steps  of  this 
good  and  great  man.  We  have  seen  its  grand  characteristic 
— a  revival  of  scriptural  religion — an  element  of  Divine  life 
in  the  bosom  of  society.  We  have  noticed  its  leading 
agency — an  itinerant  ministry,  aggressive,  enterprising,  self- 
sacrificing.  We  have  observed  the  epoch  of  its  development 
into  full  organic  form — a  Church,  with  a  regularly-constituted 
ministry  and  Christian  ordinances.  We  have  seen  its  subse- 
quent growth :  how  it  formed  societies  and  reared  churches 
throughout  the  Atlantic  slope;  how  it  kept  up  with  the 
march  of  frontier  settlements,  crossed  the  Alleghanies, 
touched  the  Mississippi,  followed  Indian  trails,  and  at  length 
filled  the  mighty  Valley  with  the  sound  of  its  battle-shout. 
In  all  this  movement  there  may  be  traced,  in  connection 
with  the  direct  influence  of  religion,  the  steady  growth  of 
all  kinds  of  improvement,  comprehensive  views  of  usefulness, 
home-influence  exalted  and  purified,  and  agencies  set  on  foot 
which  aim  at  the  diffusion  of  knowledge,  sound  morals,  and 
the  restraints  of  virtuous  principle  throughout  all  classes  of 
society.  But  what  is  this  but  in  effect  saying  that  the 
highest  and  best  form  of  civilization  has  walked  in  the  foot- 
steps of  the  expanding  and  pervading  religious  movement  ? 
What  is  it  but  saying  that  its  civic  achievements  are  of  the 


38  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCni.-. 

noblest  quality?  Patriotism  no  less  than  piety  is  under  obli- 
gation to  revere  the  memory  of  Francis  Asbury.  Fame,  with 
its  burning  tongues — the  voices  of  posterity,  "will  ]>ronounce 
Lis  name  as  that  of  a  nation's  benefactor;  and  time  will 
continue  to  Bhed  on  that  name  a  Lustre  brighter  than  the 
blaze  of  heraldry. 

Lei  me  now  observe  that  it  is  possible  to  glory  in  the 
achievements  of  a  religious  ancestry  without  imitating  them. 
It  is  possible  to  earry  on  a  system  of  operations  upon  a  level 
lower  than  that  in  which  it  originated,  and  with  a  spirit  and 
tone  Less  earnest  than  tin-  primitive  animus  and  enthusiasm. 
There  may  be  more  philosophy,  but  Less  force,  in  pulpil  min- 
fcions;  more  polish,  hut  Less  point;  more  attention  to 
Btyle,  and  Less  of  the  unction  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Our 
church-edifices  may  be  vastly  more  splendid,  our  church- 
ices  vastly  Less  spiritual,  than  in  primitive  times!  All  will 
allow  that  degeneracy  is  possible  wherever  man  is  concerned. 

( m  the  other  hand,  it  is  equally  possible  thai  one  may  view 
couleur  de  rost  every  thing  primitive,  and  indulge  in  the  carp- 
ing spirit  which  cries,  the  former  days  wen-  better  than 
these — a  spirit  which,  seizing  upon  the  circumstantials  of  the 
case  ami  overlooking  it<  essence,  concludes  that  because  Me- 
thodist Bishops  '1"  not  now  travel  on  horseback,  at  the  rate 
of  thirty  or  forty  miles  a  day.  in  an  ai*-  of  steamboats  and 
railroads,  therefore  they  are  the  degenerate  sons  of  Asbury. 
Saddle-bags  and  forty  mile-  a  day  was  the  best  h<-  could  do 
in  his  circumstances.  It  is  far  from  being  the  besl  in  our 
time.     Bishop  Asbury,  in  his  peculiar  circui  es,  main- 

tained a  life-long  celibacy ;  and  it  wj  ble  self-sacrifice. 

it  by  no  means  follows  that  his  suci  are  called  to 

same  sacrifice  of  the  dome-tic  affection-.    Wesley,  Coke, 
and   Fletcher  were  married  men   in    A  y.      The 


FRANCIS    ASBURT.  39 

primitive  Methodist  preachers  received  at  first  sixty -four 
dollars,  and  subsequently  eighty  dollars  per  annum,  when- 
ever they  were  fortunate  enough  to  get  their  full  disciplinary 
allowance.  To  fall  back  upon  primitive  usage  and  again 
starve  the  ministry  might  be  a  good  specimen  of  "old- 
fashioned  Methodism,"  but  it  would  be  a  signal  proof  of  the 
total  want  of  true  religious  feeling,  in  the  present  circum- 
stances of  the  Church.  There  was  a  time  when  circuits  com- 
prehended the  half  of  States :  is  that  any  reason  why  preach- 
ers should  now  occupy  their  whole  time  in  mere  locomotion  ? 
Clearly,  then,  we  must  discriminate  between  the  circum- 
stantials and  the  essence. 

"What,  then,  is  the  essence  ?  •  I  presume  to  say,  in  the  first 
place,  that  Methodism  stands  or  falls  with  its  religion. 
Commute  this  into  a  mere  formalism,  or  turn  it  into  a  mere 
philosophy  of  spiritual  life,  instead  of  life  itself — an  experi- 
mental verity  in  the  heart — and  then  the  monuments  of  the 
conquests  of  our  fathers  will  only  exhibit  more  emphatically 
the  degeneracy  of  the  present  race.  Retain  this,  and  let  it 
be  true  that  "God  is  with  us,"  and  then  the  "glory  in  the 
midst"  is  also  a  defence  round  about.  We  hold  the  charter 
of  our  perpetuity  by  the  tenure  of  fidelity  to  religious  prin- 
ciple. This  is  the  real  power  in  the  Church — the  prophecy 
and  the  pledge  of  a  long  youth  and  a  glorious  maturity. 

2.  A  steady  hold  upon  the  cardinal  truths  of  the  gospel  is 
another  of  the  essentials.  If  the  time  ever  come  when 
flowers  of  rhetoric,  or  polemical  subtilties,  or  elaborate  moral 
essays,  or  scientific  discussions,  or  a  hybrid  politico-pulpit 
declamation  shall  take  the  place  of  Christ — his  atonement, 
our  meritorious  ground  of  justification ;  his  Spirit,  the  source 
of  our  regeneration ;  his  commands,  our  law ;  his  love,  our 
inspiration — if  our  theology  ever  become  transmuted,  by  the 


40  BIOGRAPHICAL    BKB1CHB8. 

processes  of  modern  spiritual  chemistry,  into  an  attar-of-rose 
sentimentality,  and  Methodist  preachers  become  famous  for 
delivering  beautiful  Bermons,  with  no  baptism  of  fire  upon 
them,  then  write  Ichabod  apon  the  fcemple-doors. 

3.  In  fine,  we  may  reckon  among  the  characteristic,  essen- 
tial elements,  the  spirit  of  activity,  of  aggressive  enterprise. 
IIow  this  spirit  breaks  out  in  the  oharacter  and  achieve- 
ts  of  Asbury  and  his  contemporaries!  Their  voice  went 
through  the  land  BS  a  trumpet-call.  It  Bounded  over  height 
and   depth,   and    filled    the   country   with    its    echoes.      What 

rning  for  souls;  what  eag  for  the  ousel  agaiusi  aid 

and  the  devil ;  what  a  vigor  ami  pitch  of  working  power,  did 
these  venerable  men  exhibit!    Times  are  altered:  the  state 

■ 

of  the  country  is  improved;  persecution  i-  found  uowhere, 
Unless  we  choose  to  dignify  with  that  name  the  pitiful  snarl- 
ings  of  an  enraged  but  insignificant  bigotry;  Wealth  abounjds 
^tmong  the  members  of  the  Church  ;  learning,  ami  eloqm 
and  reputation,  are  found  among  her  ministers.  What  then? 
1-  the  mission  of  the  Church  ended'.''  Are  there  no  fields  for 
her  sickle!  Is  there  no  call  for  1km-  activities?  May  .-lie' 
confine  herself  to  decorous,  routin*  operations?  Asbury*  tell 
US.  Ah.  we  well  know  what  would  he  his  voice,  could  he 
speak  to  us  from  the  heights  of  immortality.  He  would  Bay: 
"Behold  your  country!  Infidelity,  worldliness, ambition,  are 
BWallowing  up  millions  of  its  people.  Yours,  my  son-,  is  the 
ta-k  of  staying  these  plagues.  Par  mightier  is  the  field  he- 
fore  you  than  was  that  into  which  your  fathers  entered.  In 
your  days  is  to  be  fought  the  grand  battle  for  the  mastery  of 
the  world,  between  gospel  truth  and  a  boastful  hut  deter- 
mined unbelief.  The  God  of  Jacob  make  your  arms  strong 
to  draw  the  bow  of  steel.  "Push  the  battle  to  the  gate."  He 
would  bid  us  survey  the  world,  break  fresh  ground  in  the 


FRANCIS    ASBURY.  41 

"regions  beyond,"  and  bear  a  part  worthy  of  our  resources, 
and  proportioned  to  our  responsibilities,  in  the  grand  equip- 
ment for  Christ's  conquest  of  the  whole  earth. 

Instead  of  waning  in  zeal,  in  faith,  in  enterprise,  let  the 
Church  go  onward  in  accumulative  power.  The  first  century 
of  American  Methodism  has  a  decade  of  years  yet  to  run. 
Its  history  may  be  traced  in  one  line :  "  Mightily  grew  the 
word  of  God,  and  prevailed."  "What  may  not — what  might 
not  the  second  century  to  witness  ? — when  the  spirit  of  mo- 
dern society,  too,  is  all  astir;  when  activity,  progress,  is 
written  on  the  banners  of  science,  philosophy,  invention, 
arts,  literature,  commerce ;  when  the  barriers  of  prejudice 
are  crumbling;  when  public  respect  has  been  won  to*  our 
principles  and  modes  of  operation  ;  when  opportunity  opens 
the  gates  of  the  world  to  us,  and  province  after  province  in- 
vites our  entrance  ?  0  for  a  fresh  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
and  of  fire  on  all  the  Church !  May  her  future  history  be 
worthy  of  the  past,  and  realize  to  the  full  the  noble  anticipa- 
tion of  the  poet  Montgomery  with  which  he  closed  a  public 
address  at  the  centenary  celebration  of  English  Methodism : 
"  Century  expanding  after  century,  like  circle  beyond  circle, 
in  broad  water,  shall  carry  farther  and  farther  the  blessings 
of  the  Methodist  dispensation,  till  they  have  tracked  every 
sea,  and  touched  every  shore  !" 


[In  the  foregoing  admirable  sketch  of  Bishop  Asbury  it  is  stated  that  "his 
mortal  remains  lie  in  a  vault  beneath  the  pulpit  of  the  Eutaw  Street  Church,  in 
Baltimore."  There,  indeed,  they  were  deposited,  and  there  they  lay  for  thirty  or 
forty  years ;  but  we  are  sorry  to  add,  that  they  have  since  been  removed  to  Mount 
Olivet  Cemetery,  in  the  suburbs  of  Baltimore,  for  what  reason  is  best  known  to 
those  who  disturbed  the  sacred  ashes.  We  hope  they  will  be  restored  to  their  first 
and  final  resting-place ;  where  there  is  a  tablet  bearing  an  inscription,  which  is 
copied  verbatim  on  the  following  page. — Editor.] 


42  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

2  B  r  r  r  t) 

TO    THE    .MEMORY    OF 

THE  REVEREND   FRANCIS  ASBURY 

Bishop 

of  THE 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


IIe  was  born  ix  England  August  20,  174"> ; 

Entered  tiii;  MlNISTBY  at  the  age  of  17; 

Came  a  Misbiohaby  ro  America  1771; 

Was  ordained  Bishop  in  this  city  December  27,  1784; 

Annually  visited  the  ('.inferences  in  the  United  States; 

With  MUOB  zeal  oontdtdbd  to  "preach  the  word" 

FOR  MORE  THAN  HALF  A  CENTURY  ; 

AND 

LITERALLY    ENDED   niS   LABORS   WITH   HIS   LIFE, 

nbab  Fbbdbbiokbbttbo,  YlKCTNIA, 

in  the  full  triumph  of  faith,  on  31  march,  1816, 

Aged  70  Years  7  Months  and  11  Days. 

His  remains  were  deposited  in  this  vault  May  10,  1816, 

by  the  General  Conference  then  sitting  in  this  city. 

His  Journals  will  exhibit  to  posterity 

his  labors,  his  difficulties,  iii-  .- 1  1  i  ekings, 

his  patience,  his  perseverance,  his  love  to  god  and  man. 


WILLIAM    MCKEXDREE.  43 


WILLIAM    McKENDREE. 

BY    A.    L.    P.    GREEN,    D.    D. 

"William  McKendree  was  born  in  King  "William  county, 
Virginia,  July  5,  1757,  and  departed  this  life  March  5,  1835, 
at  the  residence  of  his  brother,  Dr.  James  McKendree,  Sum- 
ner county,  Tennessee. 

Of  his  early  history,  childhood,  and  youth,  we  know  but 
little,  further  than  that  he  was  born  of  worthy  and  pious 
parents,  who  were  in  moderate  circumstances,  and  was 
brought  up  to  the  pursuits; common  to  the  sons  of  a  medium 
farmer  in  those  days. 

His  early  education  was  imperfect ;  but  in  the  course  of 
years,  by  close  attention  to  study,  he  became  a -learned  man. 
In  his  youth  his  attention  was  mainly  directed  to  arithmetic, 
so  that  his  education  in  these  days  would  be  called  a  business- 
education. 

It  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  learn  from  the  Bishop  much 
about  himself — that  was  not  with  him  a  topic  of  conversa- 
tion :  his  own  acts  and  doings  were  never  introduced,  except 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  keep  himself  out  of  sight.  If  at  any 
time  he  related  an  anecdote,  or  gave  a  piece  of  history,  in 
which  he  was  an  actor,  instead  of  saying,  I  did  so  and  so,  he 
would  say,  a  preacher  did  so  and  so ;   consequently,  many 


44  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

-.  which  would  no  doubt  be  very  interesting,  pertaining 
to  the  early  portion  of  bis  life,  Lave  never  obtained  public 
notoriety. 

For  instance,  he  once  belonged  to  the  army,  as  a  soldier  of 
the  Revolution,  and  was  in  the  Bervice  onder  Washington  the 
last  two  yean  of  the  war  with  Great  Britain.  He  entered  as 
a  private,  and  was  in  a  Bhorl  time  afterward  made  an  adjutant, 
which  office  he  Beema  to  have  held  about  aiz  months,  and  was 
then,  in  consequence  of  bis  greal  business  qualifications, 
placed  in  the  commissary  department.  Here  he  Bhowed  his 
of  character,  in  making  impressments  of 
cattle  and  food  to  Bustain  the  allied  armies  of  Washington 
and  Rochambean  at  the  of  Cornwallia  at   Yorktown. 

This  part  of  his  lit'.'  he  but  seldom  mentioned,  and  many 
of  his  intimate  friends  never  even  knew  that  hehadbeloi 
to  the  army.  There  was  an  effort  made  at  one  time  to  in- 
duce him  to  obtain  a  pension  of  the  government  for  his 
;  but  be  would  no1  accede  to  this,  staling  that  his 
liberty  was  all  that  he  wanted,  and  il"it  he  had  obtained,  and 
that  he  asked  for  nothing  more. 
As  readers  generally  are  curious  t<»  know  something  of  the 

tonal  appearance  of  those  whose  lives  they  arc  to  be  made 
familiar  with,  I  will  here  give  a  short  description  of  the  outer 
man  of  the  Bishop. 

lie  was  about  five  feel  ten  indies  in  height,  weighing,  on 

an  average,  through  life,  after  grown  up  to  manh 1,  about 

one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds.  He  had  fair  skin,  dark  hair, 
andblueeyes.  He  increased  in  flesh  between  tie-  yeai 
forty  and  Bixty,  and  at  one  time  he  weigh  d  about  one  hun- 
dred ami  eighty  pounds;  but  as  ho  grew  old  he  declined  in 
flesh,  aiel  for  the  last  ten  year-  <>f  his  lite  did  not  exceed  one 
hundred  and  forty  pounds.     When  in  his  prime,  his  form  was 


WILLIAM    MCKENDREE.  45 

almost  faultless,  possessing  extraordinary  action  and  great 
physical  strength.  His  features,  taken  as  a  whole,  were  de- 
cidedly good ;  rather  handsome  than  otherwise.  "When  calm 
and  silent,  there  was  the  expression  of  deep  thought  upon  his 
countenance,  sometimes  approaching  even  to  that  of  care ; 
but  whenever  he  spoke,  his  eyes  would  kindle  up,  and  a 
smile,  like  that  of  pleasant  recognition,  would  cover  his  face, 
which  was  the  outcropping  of  a  kind  and  benevolent  heart. 
His  constitution  was  no  doubt  naturally  a  good  one,  but  he 
was  so  much  overtaxed  through  life  with  labor,  hardships, 
and  exposure,  that  his  old  age  was  burdened  with  infirmities, 
being  for  many  years  under  the  influence  of  asthma  and 
neuralgia. 

With  respect  to  his  intellect,  I  may  say  it  was  of  the  high- 
est grade,  and  it  is  hard  to  say  from  what  standpoint  to  view 
him  in  order  to  see  his  strongest  developments.  His  percep- 
tive organs  were  perfect.  He  saw  every  thing  that  came  in 
sight — nothing  passed  him  unnoticed.  His  comparison  was 
superior,  being  by  nature  a  logician  and  mathematician,  and 
withal  remarkably  practical.  Had  he  been  called  to  the  field 
at  the  head  of  an  army,  his  enemy  would  not  have  been  his 
equal,  unless  he  had  been  wise,  sleepless,  and  powerful.  Had 
he  taken  his  place  in  the  halls  of  legislation,  righteous  laws 
and  wise  counsel  would  have  followed  in  his  wake.  Had  the 
subject  of  finance  taken  possession  of  his  mighty  brain,  he 
might  have  been  the  American  Rothschild.  As  a  man  of 
order,  he  was  faultless :  every  thing  was  in  its  place,  and  all 
things  were  done  at  the  proper  time.  His  taste  was  exquisite, 
and  he  fully  appreciated  every  thing  that  interests  humanity. 
His  mind  had  no  dark  surfaces  or  blunt  edges.  His  intellect, 
as  a  whole,  was  bright,  and  his  thoughts  diamond-pointed. 
He  never  said  foolish  things — never  weak,  never  even  com- 


46  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

mon  things.  There  was  thought  in  all  Lis  words,  and  wis- 
dom in  all  Lis  thoughts.  As  he  grew  in  years  and  increased 
in  knowledge,  he  did  not  Buffer  any  thing  to  be  lost:  the 
balances  he  continually  brought  forward,  so  that  at  any  time 
Le  was  prepared  for  a  full  statement  of  life's  account.  He 
transferred  childhood  into  youth,  youth  into  manhood,  and 
manhood  into  old  :  so  thai  when  his  locks  were  gray  and 
he  was  Leaning  u\«<n  his  statl',  if  he  Bought  the  society  of 
children,  in  which  he  took  great  delight,  they  found  in  him 
their  own  thought,  feeling,  and  sympathies;  when  with  tLe 
youth,  he  was  a  boy  again;  when  among  the  lions  of  crea- 
tion, lie  Lore  Lis  mane  aloft,  and  sLook  the  earth  with  Lis 
roaring.  He  was  the  man  for  the  times  and  the  age  in  which 
he  Lived,  Leading  in  triumph  tLe  Church  in  the  wilder 
like  Abraham  leading  Lis  son  to  the  mount.of  vision.  I  shall 
!•  Bee  his  Like  again. 
A  il  n  _.  rds  his  social  habits,  I  may  safely  say  that  he  was 
ev.ry  thing  that  could  Le  desired.  He  was  communicative, 
companionable,  and  sympathizing.  There  was  no  cold] 
coarseness,  or  selfishness  about  him.    Without  effort,  he  found 

his  Way  to  tLe  confidence  and  esteem  Of  r\ryy  one,  old  and 
young,  black  and  white,  rich  and  poor.     His  heart  was  always 

in  the  lead,  so  thai  a  stranger  was  firsl  impressed  with  the 

goodness  of  the  man  and  tlieipnrityofliisj.urjn.se — a  natural 
draft  upon  Lis  confidence  which  Le  was  sure  to  honor.  Thifl 
point  once  gained,  his  great  wisdom  never  failed  to  command 
resp<    • 

Ilis  religious  and  ministerial  character  is  not  unknown  to 
the  Church,  and  it  will  soon  he  put  into  a  living  form  by  an 
abler  Land,  yet  we  tliink  it  advisable  to  give  a  short  sketch 
of  it  here. 

He  was  under  serious  impression  when  quite  a  youth,  but 


WILLIAM    MCKENDREE.  47 

did  not  embrace  religion  until  some  time  in  the  year  1787 ;  at 
which  time  he  connected  himself  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  the  following  year  obtained  license  to  preach, 
and  joined  the  travelling  Connection  on  trial.  The  Confer- 
ence at  which  he  was  admitted  was  held  in  Amelia  county, 
Virginia,  June  17,  1788.  His  first  appointment  was  to  ISor- 
folk  and  Portsmouth.  His  next  was  to  Petersburg :  after  the 
first  quarter,  he  was  removed  to  Union  Circuit,  in  the  bounds 
of  the  South  Carolina  Conference.  The  following  year  he 
was  sent  to  the  Bedford  Circuit,  Virginia  Conference :  the 
third  quarter  he  was  removed  to  the  Greenbrier  Circuit :  the 
fourth  quarter  he  was  removed  to  the  Little  Levels,  on  the 
Western  waters.  The  next  year  he  was  appointed  to  four 
circuits,  to  travel  each  one  quarter.  At  the  end  of  this  year 
he  was  appointed  to  the  Eichmond  District.  The  following 
year  he  was  sent  to  a  mountainous  District  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference.  From  this  District  he  was  returned  at  the  end 
of  the  year  to  the  Eichmond  District,  from  which  he  was 
taken  after  one  round,  by  the  Bishops,  to  wdiat  was  then 
called  Kentucky,  and  left  in  charge  of  what  was  then  the 
"Western  Conference,  which  embraced  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee, and  all  Virginia  west  of  New  Eiver,  and  also  one 
Circuit  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  foregoing  account  of 
his  labors  is  from  the  Bishop's  own  hand. 

He  was  continued  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  until  the  Gene- 
ral Conference  of  1808,  at  which  time  he  was  elected  and 
ordained  Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His 
labors  and  responsibilities  after  this  were  greatly  increased. 
"While  he  was  in  charge  of  the  Western  Conference,  as  Pre- 
siding Elder,  his  work  was  exceedingly  difficult,  and  in  some 
instances  hazardous.  The  country  was  new,  the  roads  were 
generally  very  bad,  and  the   accommodations  poor.     The 


48  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

ms,  for  the  moat  part,  were  without  ferries  or  brid 
and  travelling  had  to  be  done  nit*  .ir^-t  1  i^-r-  on  horseback  or  on 
foot,  so  thai  every  variety  of  difficulty  Lad  to  be  encountered. 
But  deep  streams,  high  mountains,  muddy  roads,  cold  and 
Bnow,  together  with  long  rides,  were  the  inheritance  of  a 
travelling  preacher  in  those  days.  Yet  these  things  moved 
nol  our  beloved  Bishop. 

Be  Led  his  band  of  tried  men.  It  was  not  his  plan  to  say 
"go,"  but  "come"  was  his  word;  and  a  nobler  band  of  chris- 
tian heroes  never  lived  than  those  who  flocked  around  the 
standard  that  was  lH.ru, ■  in  triumph  by  William  McKendree. 
re  mention  of  the  names  of  a  few  of  them  will  settle  this 
point,      loader,   run   your  eye   over  the    list    for  a  moment. 

John  MeCee,  John  Page,  William  Burke,  Jacob 
Young,  Thomas Wilkerson,  Learner  Blackman,  Samuel  Dou- 

Cwin,  Lewis  Garrett,  and  Jesse  Walker.  These 
were  men  of  mark,  of  nerve,  of  midfeet,  with  great  powers  of 
endurance  and  decision  of  character.  The  yell  of  savage 
men  and  Bavage  beasts  did  not  daunl  their  courage :  poverty, 
hunger,  and  fatigue,  they  regarded  as  wry  little  thii 
while  the  scons  of  intidels  and  the  persecutions  of  the  wicked 
fell  harmless  at  their  feet.  Led  on  by  the  wise,  the  prudent, 
tin'  far-seeing  McKendree,  tiny  seemed  to  be  endowed  with 

Ubiquity:  they  were  to  he  found  almost  everywhere.  With 
them,  it  was  open  war  with  the  enemy  of  Christ,  and  they 
Carried  the  standard  of  the  cross  into  every  town  ami  ham- 
let :  they  planted  it  on  the  tops  of  the  mountains  and  beside 
all  waters. 

Jesse  Walker  was  generally  sent  forward  as  a  sacred  en- 
gineer, who  would  reconnoitre  the  ground  and  discover  the 
position  of  the  enemy,  and  select  his  position,  and  report. 
Then  McKendree  would  bring  into  the  field  his  heavy  ord- 


WILLIAM    MCKENDREE.  49 

nance,  which  generally  consisted  of  McGee,  Burke,  Page, 
and  Garrett,  and  their  like,  by  whom  hot  shot  was  thrown 
thick  and  fast  into  the  camp  of  the  enemy,  until  the  bulwarks 
of  infidelity  were  in  ruins.  Then  would  be  heard  the  sound 
of  the  silver  trump,  blown  by  Wilkerson,  Blackman,  Gwin, 
Douthet,  and  others,  wTho  always  had  a  supply  of  balm  for 
the  wounded  hearts,  and  delighted  their  ears  with  their  hea- 
venly music,  for  .some  of  them  were  sweet  singers,  so  that 
the  bruised  and  mangled  became  easy  and  willing  captives. 
Thus  was  Christianity,  under  the  instrumentality  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  established  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee, 
Western  Virginia,  and  Illinois. 

Here  permit  me  to  say,  that  having  at  one  time  lived  in 
the  house  of  the  Rev.  James  Gwin,  and  having  been  the 
travelling  companion  and  intimate  friend  of  Bishop  McKen- 
dree,  and  living  for  several  years  on  terms  of  the  closest 
intimacy  wTith  him,  having  heard  much  from  these  fathers  in 
the  Church  in  the  shape  of  narrative,  what  I  may  have  to  say 
with  regard  to  incidents  in  the  life  of  the  now  sainted  Bishop 
will  be  drawn  mainly  from  memory;  therefore  I  do  not  claim 
always  to  be  correct  in  dates. 

That  the  present  generation  may  be  able  to  form  some  idea 
of  what  a  Methodist  travelling  preacher  had  to  encounter  in 
those  days,  I  will  give  one  chapter  in  the  life  of  McKendree, 
running  through  a  few  short  weeks,  in  carrying  the  gospel  to 
the  pioneer,  and  looking  up  the  frontier  settler. 

In  the  year  1807,  Brother  "Walker  was  sent  to  Illinois,  there 

being  at  that  time  but  one  Circuit  in   that  State;    and  a 

young  man  by  the  name  of  Travis  was  sent  to  Missouri.     In 

the  summer  of  this  year,  William  McKendree,  who  was  then 

in  charge  of  what  was  called  the  Cumberland  District,  wrhich 

extended  to  Illinois   and  Missouri,  took  with  him  James 
4 


50  r.  IO«;  i;.\  V  IITCAL     SKETCHES. 

Gwin  and  A.  Goddard,  (Gwin  waa  then  a  local  preacher,  and 
Goddard  waa  travelling  what  waa  thru  failed  Barren  Circuit,) 
and  set  out  to  visit  "Walker  and  Travis.  Theycroaaed  overthe 
Ohio,  and  entered  into  the  State  of  Qlinoia,  travelled  all  day, 
and,  finding  no  honae  to  Btop  at,  paaaed  the  night  in  the  wil- 
derneaa.  Next  day,  they  Bhared  a  like  fortune,  camping  ont 
at  night  again.  During  tliis  night,  their  horses  got  away, 
and  they  did  not  find  them  till  aboul  noon  the  next  day :  l>ut 
that  night  they  found  a  lone  settlement,  and  tarried  with  a 
family  who  were  Living  in  a  temporary  hut  or  camp. 
■  night,  they  reached  the  house  of  a  Mr.  B.,  who  received 
them  kindly.  The  Mississippi  was  not  far  off;  and  there 
being  no  way  to  get  their  horses  across  it  at  that  point,  they 
left  them  with  Mr.  B.,  took  their  baggage  on  their  shoulders, 
and  went  <>n  foot  to  the  river,  which  they  crosaed  in  a  canoe, 
nnd  after  walking  twelve  milea,  they  came  to  the  honae  of  a 
Mr.  Johnson*  Bere  they  met  young  Travis,  who  had  gotten 
op  a  little  camp-meeting  in  tlio  wilderness.  At  this  meeting 
their  labora  were  greatly  blessed.  Winn  it  closed,  they  re- 
turned again  to  Mr.  B.,  and  went  to  a  camp-meeting  in  the 
bounds  of  Brother  Walker's  work,  called  the  Three  Sprii 

Sere  they  found  a  few  faithful  members  of  the  ( Ihurch,  but 
1  ta  of  enemie8.  One  individual,  in  particular,  who  waa  a 
leader  of  a  hand  of  peraecutora,  had  called  a  council  among 
them  to  form  a  plan  to  drive  the  preachers  off.  He  Btated  to 
})\<  elan,  that  if  the  preachers  were  permitted  to  remain,  and 
could  have  their  way.  they  would  break  op  all  the  gambling 
and  racing  in  the  country,  and  that  they  would  have  no  more 
pleasure,  or  fun,  as  he  called  it.  £>o  the  determination  among 
them  was  to  arm  themselves,  go  to  the  camp-meeting  <  n  m 
take  the  preachers  and  conduct  them  to  the  ( >hio  River,  carry 
them    over,  and  let  them  know  that  they  were   to   keep  on 


"WILLIAM    MCKENDREE.  51 

tlieir  own  side,  and  never  trouble  them  again.  This  purpose 
was  made  known  to  the  preachers  in  advance  of  their  appear- 
ance on  the  encampment.  On  Sunday,  while  Mr.  Melven- 
dree  was  in  the  midst  of  his  discourse,  preaching  to  a  large 
and  interested  congregation,  on  the  text,  "  Come  now,  and 
let  us  reason  together,"  etc.,  the  Major,  as  he  was  called,  and 
his  company,  rode  up  and  halted  near  the  congregation.  The 
Major  told  his  men  that  he  would  not  do  any  thing  until  the 
man  had  done  preaching.  Mr.  McKendree  was  then  in  the 
prime  of  life,  his  voice  loud  and  commanding,  his  hearing 
that  of  undaunted  courage,  while  a  supernatural  defiance 
seemed  to  shoot  forth  from  his  speaking  eyes.  He  was  sus- 
tained by  the  presence  of  Gwin,  Goddard,  Walker,  and  Tra- 
vis, who  sat  near  him.  The  prayers  of  the  faithful  were 
being  sent  up  to  heaven  in  his  behalf;  and,  above  all,  the 
Divine  presence  was  with  him.  Such  was  the  power  of  his 
reasoning,  that  he  held  the  Major  and  his  party  spell-bound 
for  an  hour.  During  his  remarks,  he  took  occasion  to  say 
that  himself  and  the  ministers  that  accompanied  him  were 
all  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  freemen,  and  had  fought 
for  the  liberty  which  they  enjoyed;  but  that  their  visit  to 
that  place  was  one  of  mercy,  their  object  being  to  do  good  to 
the  souls  of  men  in  the  name  of  Christ.  As  he  drew  his  re- 
marks to  a  close,  awful  shocks  of  Divine  power  were  felt  by 
the  congregation.  At  length  mourners  were  called  for,  and 
scores  crowded  to  the  altar.  At  this  moment,  the  Major 
undertook  to  draw  off  his  men  and  retreat  in  good  order; 
but  some  were  already  gone,  others  had  alighted,  turned 
their  horses  loose,  and  were  at  the  altar  for  prayer.  He  led 
off  a  few  of  them  to  the  spring ;  and  after  a  short  consulta- 
tion, none  of  them  seemed  inclined  to  prosecute  their  pur- 
pose any  further,  and   at  once   disbanded.     Several  of  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH  1 

number  were  converted  before  the  meeting  closed,  and  be- 
came members  of  the  Church. 

On  the  Bame  evening,  about  the  going  down  of  the  sun,  a 
man  came  ap  to  Mr.  Gwin  and  Baid  to  him:  "Are  yen  the 
man  that  carries  the  roll?"  "What  roll?"  said  Mr.  Gwin. 
"The  roll,"  said  he,  "that  people  put  their  names  to  that 

•  to  go  to  heaven."  Brother  Gwin,  supposing  that  he 
had  reference  to  the  class-book,  referred  him  to  Brother 
Walker,  who  took  his  name.  The  wild  look  and  novel  man- 
ner of  the  man  indicated  derangement.     He  left  the  camp- 

ind  and  fled  to  the  w 1*  "with  almost  the  speed  of  a 

■wild  bei  thing  more  was  seen  of  him  until  the  next 

morning,  at  which  time  he  returned  to  the  encampment,  wet 
with  the  dew  of  the  night,  in  a  Btate  of  mind  which  was  dis- 
beyond  description  :  hut  during  1 1 1 « •  day  he  was  hap- 
pily and  powerfully  converted  to  God,  and  was  found  Bitting, 

ithed,  and  in  his  right 
mind.  He  afterward  gave  tin'  following  account  of  himself: 
He  lived  in  what  was  called  the  American  Bottom,  was  very 
wicked,  and  professed  to  be  a  deist.  A  Bhorl  time  before,  he 
dreamed  that  the  day  of  judgment  was  coming,  and  that 
three  men  had  been  Bent  on  from  the  East  to  warn  him  of 
his  danger,  which  had  disi  him  greatly;  and  when  he 

the  three  preachers,  McKendree,  Gwin,  and  Goddard, 
his  house,  he   recognized  them   as   tin'  Bame  pen 
whom  he  had  Been  in  his  dream,  and  lie  had  followed  them 
to  tin'  camp-meeting,  and  they  had  warned  him  of  hi-  danger 

sure   enough.     It  was  said  of  this  man  that  he  posw d  :i 

large  estate,  was  very  influential  in  his  neighborhood,  and 

ultimately  instrumental  in  doing  much  good. 
At  the  close  of  this  meeting,  one  hundred  persons  con- 
nected  themselves  with  the  Church. 


WILLIAM    MCKENDItEE.  53 

In  all  my  intercourse  with  Bishop  McKendree,  there  was 
no  man  whose  name  was  more  frequently  mentioned  hy  him 
than  Jesse  Walker.  Often  have  I  heard  him  say,  Jesse  was 
a  true  man ;  and  it  may  not  be  amiss  for  a  few  lines  to  be 
devoted  to  him. 

The  Rev.  Jesse  "Walker  was  a  character  perfectly  unique  : 
he  had  no  duplicate.  He  was  to  the  Church  what  Daniel 
Boone  was  to  the  early  settler — always  first,  always  ahead  of 
everybody  else,  preceding  all  others  long  enough  to  be  the 
pilot  of  the  newcomer.  Brother  Walker  is  found  first  in 
Davidson  county,  Tennessee.  He  lived  within  about  three 
miles  of  the  then  village  of  Nashville ;  and  was  at  that  time 
a  man  of  family,  poor,  and  to  a  considerable  extent  without 
education.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1803,  and  appointed 
to  the  Red  River  Circuit.  But  the  Minutes,  in  his  case,  are 
no  guide,  from  the  fact  that  he  was  sent  by  the  Bishops  and 
Presiding  Elders  in  every  direction  where  new  wTork  was  to 
be  cut  out.  His  natural  vigor  was  almost  superhuman.  He 
did  not  seem  to  require  food  and  rest  as  other  men ;  no  day's 
journey  was  long  enough  to  tire  him ;  no  fare  too  poor  for 
him  to  live  upon ;  to  him,  in  travelling,  roads  and  paths  were 
useless  things — he  blazed  out  his  own  course ;  no  way  was 
too  bad  for  him  to  travel — if  his  horse  could  not  carry  him, 
he  led  him,  and  when  his  horse  could  not  follow,  he  would 
leave  him,  and  take  it  on  foot;  and  if  night  and  a  cabin  did 
not  come  together,  he  would  pass  the  night  alone  in  the 
wilderness,  which  with  him  was  no  uncommon  occurrence. 
Looking  up  the  frontier  settler  was  his  chief  delight ;  and  he 
found  his  way  through  hill  and  brake  as  by  instinct — he  was 
never  lost;  and,  as  Bishop  McKendree  once  said  of  him,  in 
addressing  an  Annual  Conference,  he  never  complained ;  and 
as  the  Church  moved  "West  and  North,  it  seemed  to  bear 


54  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKI-TCHES. 

Walker  before  it.  Every  time  you  would  hear  from  him,  he 
was  r-till  farther  on;  and  when  the  settlements  of  tne  white 
man  seemed  to  take  shape  and  form,  he  was  next  heard  of 
among  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  North-w<   L 

In  1808,  he  was  Bent  to  Missouri,  and  at  once  benl  his  ' 
to  St.  Louis,  which  was  at  that  time  as  destitute  of  true  pi<  ty 
any  point  in  America.  <>n  reaching  the  town,  he  passed 
through  it  in  various  directions  in  search  of  a  Methodist,  but 
found  no  one  who  could  inform  him  where  Buch  a  character 
could  be  found.     At  Length  he  ;  out,  and  was  making 

his  way  into  the  country  beyond;  but  when  he  had   t 
quite  :  the  town,  he  drew  uj>  his  horse,  and  looked  back 

upon  the  place  for  a  few  minutes,  and  at  length  said,  in  the 
name  of  that  Saviour  who  said  t<>  his  disciples,  "Go  3 a  into 
all  the  world  and  preach  tin-  gospel  to  every  creature,"  I  will 
E^ve  you  up:  I  will  try  again!    Bo  he  turned  about,  rode 
in  into  the  .  and  renewed  his  inquiry.     At  Length,  he 

told  that  then-  was  a  man  down  on  Front  stiv.  t  who 
thodist.     Taking  the  name  and  directions,  he  wenl  in 
h  of  his  man,  whom  he  soon  found.     Calling  him  bro- 
ther, telling  hi-  own  name  and  business,  he  asked  Buch  coun- 
tenance and  cooperation  as  the  circumstances  of  the  ■ 
required.     The  man  gave  him  the  wink,  and  beckoned  him 
a  hark-;-,. niii.  Beveral  persons  being  present,  ami  Bald  to 
him  about  as  follows:  ••/.    k  hen  :  \  waa  a  Methodist  where 
I  came  from,  hut  it  is  not  generally  known  here,  ami  1  do 
wish  it  to  be.     You  cannot   <h>  any  thing  in «this  town, 
ami  it  i-  aseless  t<>  try."     Brother  Walker  soon  after  learned 
that  the  man  was  keeping  what  would  he  called  in  these  days 

•ry,"  ami  could    not  be  relied  on  in  Church  mat' 

He  went  at  once  to  a  public-house  and  put  up.  He  made  in- 
quiry where  lie  could  rent  a  room.     An  old  shell  of  a   1 


WILLIAM    MCKENDREE.  55 

was  soon  found  and  rented,  and  in  a  few  days  Walker  had  set 
up  housekeeping  on  a  scale  of  economy  which  would  astonish 
the  present  generation,  and  took  measures  to  have  preaching 
in  his  own  room ;  so  that  his  little  establishment  was  kitchen, 
chamber,  dining-room,  parlor,  and  meeting-house;  and, 
gloomy  as  the  prospects  were,  he  soon  gathered  together  a 
little  handful  of  serious,  well-disposed  persons,  some  three  or 
four  of  whom  had  been  members  of  the  Church  before.  But 
not  much  could  be  done,  for  the  want  of  a  house  of  worship. 
He  could  not  rent  a  suitable  building,  and  would  not  have 
been  able  to  pay  for  one  if  it  could  have  been  found.  At 
length  he  was  told  by  an  individual  that  he  would  give  him 
timber  to  build  him  a  church,  but  it  was  across  the  Mis- 
sissippi, on  the  Illinois  shore,  growing  in  the  forest.  But  not- 
withstanding, light  began  to  break  upon  the  mind  of  Walker.. 
Next,  he  had  the  offer,  of  a  lot  to  build  upon.  So  his  plan 
was  at  once  laid.  He  hired  a  man  to  aid  him,  took  his  tools, 
cheese  and  crackers,  crossed  over  the  river,  and  went  to  work 
cutting,  hewing,  and  sawing,  and  in  a  few  months  had  his  frame 
and  plank  all  gotten  out :  his  plank  was  put  into  a  kiln  to 
dry,  and  by  the  time  he  had  put  up  his  frame,  the  plank  was 
sufficiently  seasoned  to  work.  The  result  was,  that  at  the 
end  of  the  year  he  reported  to  Conference  a  church  in  St. 
Louis — house,  congregation,  and  all — the  labor  of  his  own 
hands.  Such  was  Jesse  Walker.  His  education,  as  we  be- 
fore stated,  was  poor,  with  but  little  opportunity  for  reading, 
though  he  studied  nature  closely,  was  wonderfully  gifted  in 
prayer  and  exhortation,  while  his  faith  was  uncompromising ; 
and  being  well  acquainted  with  human  nature,  he  became  a 
powerful  instrument,  in  the  hands  of  God,  of  spreading  the 
gospel  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  He  was  one  of  the 
Rev.    James   Gwin's   kind  of  men,  which  the  reader  will 


56  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

more  readily  understand  when  he  .-hall  hear  the  following 
incident 

On<e  when  I  was  boarding  in  his  family,  and  observing  his 
habits,  1  became  fearful  thai  he  would  doI  be  able  to  sustain 
himself  as  he  read  coining  bul  newspapers,  and  at  the  same 
time  had  to  preach  every  Sunday  to  a  large  and  intelligent 
congregation.  At  Length  I  thought  I  would  talk  to  him  on 
the  Bubject,  which  I  endeavored  t * >  do  as  humbly  and  mo- 
destly  as  I  could,  but  just  remarking  that  I  could  not  see 
how  h<-  was  to  BUBtain  himself  without  reading.  II>'  heard 
me  thmugh  without  manifesting  the  least  displeasure,  and 
answered  by  saving:  "You  little  fellows  cannot  Lean)  any 
thing  until  somebody  else  funis  it  out  first  ami  puts  it  in  a 
book:  then  you  can  learn  it.  But  I  know  it  before  it  goes  in 
a  book:  I  know  what  they  make  1 ks  out  of."    And  so  he 

did.      And    it    may   lie   .-aid   of  Walker,   that   ho    knew   what 

books  were  made  out  of:  he  understood  how  to  use  the  raw 

material.  He  took  Lessons  from  rocks  and  trees,  mountains 
ami  rivers:  he  held  Nature's  keys,  and  forced  her,  Becretive 
as  Bhe  i-,  to  divulge  her  secrets.  Ee  lived  in  tii<-  antechamber 
of  Wisdom's  storehouse.  If-  Blaked  his  thirst  from  the  moun- 
tain brook  at  its  source,  plucked  dowers  from  Btalks  that  had 
r  been  transplanted,  and  read  the  volume  of  nature  in 
the  first  edition,  without  note  or  comment.  He  was  one  of 
nature's  great  men. 

But  to  return  to  our  McKendree,  let  us  just  glance  at 
his  soeial  habits.  This  was  one  of  his  strong  points.  He 
knew  the  way  to  the  confidence  of  the  people,  ami  was  by 
no  means  indifferent  to  their  good  opinion.  lb'  was  not  one 
of  that  kind  of  men  who  do  not  can-  what  others  think  of 
them.  lie  understood  perfectly  the  peculiarities  of  the  dif- 
-  and  conditions  of  human  society,  from  pr 


WILLIAM    MCKENDREE.  57 

dents  and  senators  down  to  the  humblest  shoeblack,  and  was 
never  out  of  place,  no  matter  where  you  found  him.  In  the 
crowded  hotel,  stages,  and  steamboats,  the  elegant  parlors  of 
the  rich,  or  the  humble  cottage  of  the  backwoodsman,  or 
even  the  sinks  of  poverty  and  wretchedness,  he  always  knew 
how  to  behave  himself,  and  did  not  think  it  either  weak  or 
wicked  to  do  so.  The  result  was,  all  classes  united  in  pro- 
nouncing him  a  perfect  Christian  gentleman;  yet  all  the 
while  very  modest  and  unassuming,  making  no  great  preten- 
sions in  any  way.  So  perfectly  natural  was  his  politeness, 
that  no  one  ever  thought  for  a  moment  that  there  was  any 
thing  like  affectation  about  him.  He  did  not  regard  rough- 
ness, coarseness,  and  bluntness,  as  the  insignia  of  internal 
piety,  but  allowed  no  one  to  behave  more  handsomely  than 
himself;  and  if  he  considered  that  a  compliment  was  de- 
served, it  was  not  beneath  his  dignity  to  bestow  it. 

I  recollect  once,  while  travelling  with  him,  on  reaching  the 
house  of  an  old  friend  in  the  interior  of  Mississippi,  several 
persons  came  together  in  the  evening,  expecting  that  he 
would  preach  to  them,  but  he  was  too  feeble  to  undertake  it. 
Among  the  number  was  a  lady,  an  old  Virginia  acquaintance 
of  his,  of  fine  mind  and  manners,  who  seemed  to  be  afflicted 
by  the  disappointment.  She  at  length  told  the  Bishop  that 
her  husband  was  hauling  his  cotton  to  market,  and  all  the 
horses  were  in  the  wagons,  so  that  there  was  nothing  on  the 
place  for  her  to  ride,  and  that  she  had  come  some  three  miles 
on  foot,  which  she  did  not  think  she  could  have  done  but  for 
the  hope  of  hearing  him  preach.  The  Bishop,  turning  toward 
her,  his  countenance  lit  up  with  a  smile,  answered  by  saying, 
"  Sister,  if  you  only  knew  the  pleasure  it  gives  me  to  see 
you,  I  do  not  think  you  would  reproach  yourself  for  having 
taken  so  long  a  walk."    The  lady  afterward  was  heard  to  say 


58  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

thai  she  never  felt  herself  bo  much  complimented  in  her  life 
before.  Yei  he  never  went  anywhere  thai  he  <li<l  not  carry 
the  meek  and  lowly  Saviour  of  the  world  with  him ;  neither 
would  he  Long  continue  where  Christ  was  nol  welcome.  And 
it  was  next  to  impossible  to  keep  his  Bociety  without  being 
impressed  with  the  Loveliness  and  purity  of  the  religion  ho 
professed. 

As  to  attention  to  appearance,  on  this  Bubjecl  even  he  was 
not  indifferent.  While  there  was  nothing  gaudy  or  extrava- 
ganl  in  his  wardrobe,  yei  he  dressed  well.  He  exhibited  a  full 
Bhare  of  neatness  and  cleanliness  in  dress  and  person.  lie 
generally  wenl  clean-shaved,  and  his  head  combed.  When 
well  dressed,  according  to  hi-  taste,  you  would  find  him  with 
a  long-waisted,  single-breasted  black  cloth  coat,  Mack  vest 
and  breeches,  and  Long  black  stockings,  well-polished  shoes 
with  silver  buckles,  a  white  linen  Btock,  and  broad-brimmed 
hat :  and  I  musl  confess  that  I  have  Looked  14. on  him  some- 
times, when  thus  attired,  and  regarded  him  as  the  mosl  noble 
and  dignified-looking  man  I  ever  -aw. 

With  regard  to  his  ability  as  a  pulpit  orator,  his  excelL 
consisted  mainly  in  his  power  <>t'  analysis.  In  this  respect,  I 
doubt  if  I  ever  heard  Ins  superior.  lie  was  not  wanting  in 
description  ami  pathos.  In  declamation  he  did  not  often  in, 
dulge,  though  lie  had  considerable  power  in  that  direction; 
Imt  in  argumenl  lie  was  overwhelming.  lie  knew  the  truth, 
and  was  wonderfully  gifted  in  telling  it  in  such  manner  as 
to  impress  it  on  the  mind  of  the  hearer.  He  discriminated 
with  precision    and  accuracy;    while  his   selection   of 

words  was  so  appropriate,  and  his  taste  so  pure,  that  he 
might  be  regarded  as  almost  faultless.  Falsehood,  error,  and 
sophistry,  were  hunted  down  and  dislodged  from  their  hiding- 
places,  while  truth  stood  forth  in   hold   relief     Woe  to  the 


WILLIAM    MCKEND  REE.  59 

man  who  exposed  himself  to  the  keen  edge  of  his  criticism 
and  mighty  force  of  argument ! 

As  to  manner,  he  was  perfectly  natural  and  easy,  with  not 
much  action,  unless  when  greatly  excited ;  then  every  ges- 
ture spoke.  He  wras  always  himself  both  in  manner  and 
matter;  and  though  he  did  not  write  much  for  the  pulpit, 
yet  his  subjects  were  generally  well  studied.  His  enuncia- 
tion was  good,  his  voice  fine  and  full — the  lowest  tones  of  it 
could  be  heard  throughout  the  congregation  ;  still  there  was 
a  slight  natural  defect  in  his  utterance,  which  consisted  in 
his  occasionally  hesitating  or  dwelling  upon  a  word.  Yet  he 
managed  this  defect  so  handsomely  that  it  became  an  orna- 
ment, from  the  fact  that  he  rested  or  made  his  swrell  on  the 
most  important  word  in  the  sentence,  so  that  it  had  the 
effect  of  a  well-directed  emphasis.  His  sermons  were  gene- 
rally short,  particularly  in  the  last  years  of  his  ministry,  and 
gave  evidence  of  being  greatly  condensed.  His  public  prayers 
were  simple,  comprehensive,  and  brief,  while  they  seemed  to 
be  the  very  essence  of  humility  and  breath  of  devotion. 

As  to  his  habits,  he  was  remarkably  systematic.  He  lived 
by  rule.  He  retired  generally  at  nine  o'clock  and  arose  at 
five.  Any  thing  that  could  be  done  to-day,  he  never  put  oft* 
until  to-morrow.  Every  thing  was  in  its  place — every  thing 
was  done  at  the  time.  The  Bishop  having  several  times  no- 
ticed the  trouble  a  gentleman  with  whom  he  sometimes 
stayed  had  in  finding  his  hat,  said  to  him  at  length,  "  I  can 
put  you  upon  a  plan  by  which  you  can  always  tell  where  your 
hat  is,  which  is  this :  have  but  two  places  for  it :  let  one  of 
them  be  your  head,  the  other  the  nail ;  and  wThen  you  can- 
not find  it  on  your  head,  look  for  it  on  the  nail,  and  when 
you  cannot  find  it  on  the  nail,  you  may  be  sure  it  is  on  your 
head!"     The  gentleman  said  he  adopted  the  Bishop's  plan, 


60  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

and,  by  carrying  out  the  suggestion,  got  clear  of  at  least  one 
of  his  difficulties. 

He  kept  house,  as  the  Rev.  Mr.  Axley  used  to  say,  in  his 
saddlebags,  al  Least  for  the  first  twenty  years  of  his  ministry. 
And  r  have  often  heard  it  said  that  lie  could  put  more  into 
one  pair  of  Baddlebags  than  any  other  man,  while  that  which 
he  wanted  first  was  always  at  the  top.  He  knew  bo  well  how 
t"  pads  and  Btore  away  whatever  he  wished  to  carry  with 
him,  that  he  could  lay  his  hand  upon  any  article  that  he 
wanted  in  the  middle  of  the  darkest  night  without  light. 
He  did  not  throw  and  scatter  his  effects  all  about  the  house, 
to  be  gathered  up  and  taken  care  of  by  others,  but  always 
attended  to  his  own  bagg  _■  ;  and  it  mattered  not  who  was 
going  to  Btart  on  a  journey  with  him — uo  matter  what  hour 
of  the  day  or  night — nine  tames  out  of  ten,  he  would  be  the 
first  one  ready :  no  one  ever  had  to  wait  for  him.  He  lived 
on  Bimple,  plain  diet,  and,  as  Ear  as  my  recollection  extends, 
could  eat  any  thing  that  other  people  ate,  and  asked  no  ques- 
tions. I  was  well  acquainted  with  four  of  his  homes,  as  he 
called  them,  and  with  one  voice  those  who  entertained  him 
declared  that  he  gave  Less  trouble  than  any  other  person  that 
ever  came  about  their  houses.  This  has  its  effect  in  making 
te  welcome. 

With  respeel  to  his  financial  ability,  he  had  a  very  li 
capacity  to  manage  money  matters,  the  best  evidence  of 
which  is  found  in  the  fact,  that  while  his  income  was  only 
one  hundred  dollars  per  year,  besides  his  travelling  expenses, 
lie  so  managed  his  attains  as  to  keep  out  of  debt,  to  aid  in  the 
support  of  his  father  and  sister,  and  contributed  something  to 
other  relatives.  lie  also  gave  to  the  public  charities  of  the 
Church,  and  was  ever  mindful  of  the  poor  and  needy,  and 
at  his  death  had  several  thousand  dollars  to  divide  be- 


WILLIAM    MCKENDREE.  61 

tween  Ms  relatives  and  the  institutions  of  the  Church.  lie 
but  seldom  talked  of  his  temporalities,  though  he  once  told 
me  that  he  never  was  out  of  money  after  he  had  grown  up  to 
be  a  man,  except  in  a  single  instance,  and  then  a  kind  Pro- 
vidence came  to  his  relief.  The  instance,  as  I  recollect  it, 
was  as  follows :  He  had  been  on  a  long,  hard  tour,  and  was 
within  one  day's  journey  of  his  head-quarters,  where  he  had 
some  money,  but  his  tavern -bill  took  as  precisely  his  last 
cent  as  if  the  innkeeper  had  known  the  amount  and  made 
his  bill  to  suit ;  still  he  felt  no  great  concern  about  it,  because 
the  days  were  short  and  cold,  and  both  his  horse  and  himself 
could  stand  it  very  well  till  night,  when  he  would  find  relief. 
But  on  leaving  the  inn,  he  found  his  horse  had  lost  a  shoe, 
and  the  foot  was  so  very  tender  that  he  did  not  think  he 
would  be  able  to  get  him  over  the  rocky  road  that  lay  before 
him.  "  The  difficulty  is,  my  horse  must  have  a  shoe,  and  I 
have  no  quarter  to  pay  for  one.  "What  shall  I  do?"  And 
just  as  he  was  beginning  to  feel  this  embarrassment,  it  com- 
menced snowing,  and  snowed  rapidly  until  a  beautiful  soft 
carpet  covered  his  way,  and  made  the  travelling  more  plea- 
sant both  to  himself  and  horse  than  if  there  had  been  a  shoe 
on  his  foot.  No  man  had  more  confidence  in  God,  or  a 
greater  reliance  on  Providence,  than  Bishop  McKendree; 
but  he  took  care  not  to  expect  Providence  to  do  for  him  what 
he  could  and  ought  to  do  for  himself. 

"With  respect  to  his  official  character,  while  he  was  yet 
young  in  the  ministry,  his  brethren  saw  in  him  the  capacity 
to  govern,  as  well  as  a  disposition  to  obey ;  and  they  judge 
correctly  who  suppose  that  those  only  wTho  know  how  to  obey 
will  make  good  governors.  The  high  estimation  placed  upon 
him  by  the  venerable  Asbury  is  shown  in  the  fact  that  he 
selected  him  from  among  many  to  take  charge  of  the  exten- 


62  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

give  work  in  the  Mississippi  Valley;  and  when  lie  had  b< 
eight  years  in  that  field,  in  the  General  Conference  held  in 

1808,  he  was  elected  and  ordained  Bishop  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  by  which  his  field  of  labor  was  extended 
and  his  responsibilities  greatly  increased. 
In  selecting  William  McKendree  as  one  of  onr  genera] 

superintendents,  the  Church  made  no  mistake:  time  proved 
that  he  was  the  very  man  for  the  work.  It  is  mutter  of 
gratitude  and  praise  to  Almighty  God  that  thus  far  the 
Bishops  of  our  Church  have  been  true  and  faithful  men; 
and  in  no  instance  has  any  reproach  or  scandal  fallen  upon 
the  Church  on  their  account;  which,  I  believe,  cannot  truth- 
fully be  said  of  any  other  Church.  As  regards  his  adminis- 
trative powers,  I  do  not  think  I  ever  knew  his  superior.  He 
was  less  dependent  on  the  Presiding  Elders  for  information 
than  any  other  of  our  Bishops  except  Bishop  Aflbury.  As 
the  work  was  not  SO  much  extended  as  at  present,  and  as  he 
had  no  family  to  take  care  of,  he  was  enabled  to  travel 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  country,  so  that 
his  information  with  respect  to  the  state  and  condition  of  the 
Church  was  direct;  and  being  particularly  gifted  in  observa- 
tion, it  was  only  necessary  that  any  matter  of  interest  should 
come  within  his  reach,  when  it  was  at  once  seen,  understood, 
and  never  forgotten.  And  it  was  not  necessary  that  you 
should  tell  him  all  of  any  thing  to  enable  him  to  understand 
it:  tell  him  a  little,  and,  as  by  intuition,  he  would  know  the 
rest.  He  was  a  man  of  peace  ;  but  if  nothing  but  war  would 
do,  lie  was  always  found  armed  and  ready  to  defend  the 
cause  of  truth. 

As  a  presiding  officer,  he  was  always  up  with  the  busii 
of  the  Conference,  understood  the  question   in   debate,  and 
the  wandering  speaker  had  nothing  else  to  expect  but  to  be 


WILLIAM    MCKENDREE.  63 

reined  to  the  track.  As  a  judge  of  Church  law,  he  was 
superior,  ready,  prompt,  and  clear.  I  never  knew  even  an 
appeal  from  his  decision  of  a  question  of  order  sustained. 

As  to  his  general  information,  he  was  an  extensive  reader : 
almost  every  subject  was  more  or  less  familiar  to  him.  You 
would  never  find  him  ignorant  of  those  things  that  interest 
humanity ;  and  no  matter  what  the  topic  of  conversation 
might  be,  you  would  find  him  in  possession  of  correct  in- 
formation, lie  was  remarkable  in  this,  that  his  knowledge 
always  seemed  to  be  accurate,  while  a  majority  of  poor  erring 
mortals  are  half  their  time  wrong. 

He  was  a  man  of  strong  attachments,  and  no  doubt  preju- 
dices too  ;  but  they  were  so  controlled  and  subdued  that  they 
did  not  affect  his  general  character.  His  sense  of  propriety 
was  so  thorough  and  just  that  it  always  gave  his  sensitive 
nature  pain  to  see  it  violated ;  so  that  once  in  a  while,  when 
he  became  old  and  infirm,  he  would  manifest  a  little  im- 
patience where  he  saw  gross  departures  from  the  correct  rules 
of  propriety,  particularly  among  the  preachers,  all  of  whom 
he  looked  upon  as  his  children.  This  had  a  tendency  to 
make  young  ministers  shy  of  him,  and  more  or  less  embar- 
rassed in  his  presence,  which  he  knew  and  lamented.  O, 
how  mistaken  was  that  minister,  no  matter  who  he  was,  who 
did  not  desire  the  presence,  advice,  counsel,  and  even  re- 
proof, of  our  now  sainted  McKendree !  Never  did  a  father 
love  his  children  more  than  he  loved  the  preachers.  They 
were  the  joy  of  his  great  heart  and  the  pride  of  his  life.  Many 
a  time,  when  I  have  been  travelling  with  him,  when  fatigue 
and  bodily  suffering  had  borne  him  down  until  he  would 
seem  to  be  scarcely  able  to  live,  just  let  two  or  three  preach- 
ers from  the  neighborhood  or  town,  as  the  case  might  be, 
call  in  to  see  him,  and  join  in  easy  conversation,  he  would 


64  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

spring  again,  to  life,  his  countenance  glow  with  pleasure,  his 
eyes  kindle  with  delight,  -while  the  scenes  of  other  days  were 
talked  over,  and  friend  after  friend  inquired  after.  But 
occasionally  his  manner  of  conversation  was  so  critical  that 
it  would  embarrass  those  with  whom  he  conversed.  I  recol- 
lect one  instance  when  the  brother  said  that  he  felt  all  the 
time  that  ho  was  conversing  with  the  Bishop  as  if  he  were 
upon  oath.  Yet  this  disposition  to  criticism  did  not  dispose 
him  to  controversy  in  private:  that  he  always  avoided  when 
he  could  do  so  without  leaving  truth  to  Buffer.  But  woe  to 
the  man  who  provoked  him  into  argument  !  T  have  in  my 
mind  one  case  which  will  illustrate  this  trait  of  his  character. 
I  think  in  the  year  1830,  while  descending  the  Mississippi 
on  a  large  steamer,  crowded  with  passengers,  the  weather 
being  cold,  we  were  compelled  to  live  in  close  community 
about  the  stove.  The  company  was  a  mixed  one — old  and 
young,  ladies  and  gentlemen — so  that  various  subjects  of  con- 
versation were  up  from  time  to  time;  until  an  old  lawyer 
and  politician,  who  no  doubt  mistook  the  Bishop's  character 
in  part,  thinking  that  the  Church  had  made  a  Bishop  of  him 
on  account  of  his  goodness  and  lamb-like  nature,  never  for 
once  supposing  that  there  was  any  of  the  lion  in  him,  con- 
cluded, no  doubt,  that  he  would  make  some  capital  by  a 
controversy  with  him  on  Church -government.  A  greater 
mistake  no  poor  man  ever  made,  for  the  Bishop  would  have 
been  more  than  his  equal  on  any  subject,  and  on  that  of 
Church -government  he  was  too  strong  for  any  one,  for  he 
had  given  to  that  subject  extraordinary  attention.  Having 
been  a  little  troubled  in  that  direction  in  his  youth,  lie  Lad 
thrashed,  fanned,  and  sifted  it  with  his  powerful  intellect  for 
years,  until  there  was  not  a  comma,  a  crossed  /.  or  dotted  /', 
in  the  whole  empire  of  Church-government  which  he  did  not 


WILLIAM    MCKENDREE.  65 

have  by  heart  and  at  his  tongue's  end.  The  old  Colonel 
commenced  by  saying  to  the  Bishop  that  he  differed  with 
him  on  Church-government ;  to  which  the  Bishop  answered 
by  saying,  "So,  so!"  The  Colonel,  finding  that  he  had  not 
got  the  Bishop  off  to  his  liking,  said  next  that  he  thought 
the  Bishops  of  the  Methodist  Church  had  too  much  power. 
The  Bishop  answered  by  saying  that  he  wished  he  had  more 
power  than  he  had — that  he  once  had  power  enough  to  travel 
round  this  continent  in  a  year ;  "  but  now,"  said  he,  "I  hardly 
have  power  enough  to  walk."  This  produced  a  laugh  around 
the  circle,  which  was  any  thing  but  comfortable  to  the 
Colonel ;  so  at  once  he  commenced  an  argument  against  the 
government  of  the  Church  and  power  of  the  Bishops.  Find- 
ing that  nothing  else  but  a  controversy  would  do  him,  the 
Bishop  met  him  promptly  with  a  force  that  evidently  over- 
powered him.  The  Colonel  rallied,  and  came  again  to  the 
attack ;  but  was  again  routed  with  great  slaughter  as  to  his 
arguments.  Next  he  attempted  an  escape,  without  calling 
for  quarter,  by  saying  that  he  had  not  words  to  express  his 
ideas,  or  he  would  make  it  appear  very  different.  But  the 
Bishop  had  determined  that  as  nothing  but  a  contest  would 
do  him,  he  would  make  him  cry  out.  The  Bishop  repeated 
slowly  the  words  of  the  old  Colonel:  "Words,  words,"  said 
the  Bishop  ;  "words  to  express  your  ideas!  "Words,"  said  he, 
"  are  the  signs  of  ideas ;  and  you  cannot  have  ideas  without 
signs.  Now,"  said  he,  "friend,  if  you  have  any  ideas  that 
you  have  not  conveyed,  you  have  received  and  retained  those 
ideas  by  a  certain  set  of  signs.  They  may  not  be  the  best 
signs  for  the  purpose,  but  do  you  use  just  such  signs  as  you 
have,  and  I  will  undertake  to  understand  them.  Now,"  said 
he,  "use your  signs,"  and  dropped  his  head,  and  all  sat  in  per- 
fect silence  for  half  a  minute,  waiting  for  the  signs  to  be 


66  BIOGRAPIIICAL    SKETCHES. 

used ;  but  uot  one  word  was  said.  The  Bishop  then  looked 
him  fiercely  in  the  face  and  said,  with  a  measure  of  earnest- 
ness not  common  to  him,  "  Use  your  signs  ;"  and  another  pause 
ensued,  and  to  the  poor  Colonel  it  was  an  awful  pause.  But 
no  signs  were  given.  Then  said  the  Bishop:  "Friend,  you 
are  mistaken  :  it  is  the  want  of  ideas."  I  felt  too  badly  for 
the  poor  Colonel  myself  to  laugh  ;  but  the  sympathies  of  the 
circle  were  with  the  Bishop,  and  the  controversy  closed  by  a 
burst  of  laughter  at  the  Colonel's  expense.  After  a  while, 
when  the  Bishop  and  myself  retired  to  the  state-room,  for  me 
to  read  to  him,  which  he  requested  me  to  do  at  stated  periods, 
I  said  to  him,  "You  treated  that  gentleman  too  bad."  lie 
answered  by  saying,  "Let  Mm  Id  //<<  tdtmel" 

There  was  one  thing  which  the  Bishop  never  seemed  to 
enjoy,  which  was,  to  be  questioned:  though  fond  of  conver- 
sation, a  number  of  questions  asked  in  quick  succession  were 
sure  to  procure  short  answers.  I  recollect  one  circumstance 
of  the  kind.  A  gentleman  who  lived  in  the  city  of  Nashville, 
who  was  in  the  habit  of  asking  a  number  of  questions  with- 
out waiting  for  answers,  put  quite  a  string  of  them  to  the 
Bishop.  When  he  had  gotten  through,  "Now,"  said  the 
Bishop,  "which  one  of  your  questions  shall  I  answer  first?" 
The  brother  laughed,  but  made  no  reply.  The  Bishop  con- 
tinued: "Your  mind  makes  me  think  of  a  prairie  on  lire: 
the  wind  pressing  in  on  all  sides,  it  drives  first  one  way  and 
then  another,  so  that  you  cannot  tell  with  certainty  how  to 
run  to  it  or  from  it ;  and  I  am  afraid  if  I  were  to  attempt  to 
answer  one  of  your  questions,  you  would  run  over  me  with 
another  before  I  could  get  out  of  the  way." 

In  nothing  was  the  character  of  the  Bishop  more  strongly 
marked  than  in  his  decision  and  firmness.  He  had  his 
own  thoughts,  and  came  to  his  own  conclusions ;  and  while 


WILLIAM    MCKENDKEE.  67 

he  was  ever  ready  to  hear  the  views  of  others,  and  be  advised, 
yet  his  own  mind  had  to  be  made  up.  For  the  most  part, 
he  came  to  his  conclusions  rapidly,  notwithstanding  he  seemed 
to  step  cautiously.  This  arose,  no  doubt,  from  the  fact  that 
his  perception  was  extraordinary  and  his  reasoning  powers 
very  strong.  Yet  I  never  knew  any  man  who  seemed  to  suf- 
fer more  than  he  did  when  he  felt  that  his  own  conviction 
compelled  him  to  go  contrary  to  the  views  or  wishes  of  his 
brethren. 

I  will  here  give  one  strongly-marked  case  in  point.  In  the 
autumn  of  1833,  when  the  Tennessee  Conference  met  in  the 
town  of  Pulaski,  the  Bishop  who  was  expected,  from  some 
cause,  did  not  reach  the  Conference.  Bishop  McKendree 
was  present,  and,  notwithstanding  he  was  superannuated, 
took  charge  of  the  business  of  the  Conference ;  and  in  the 
stationing-room  there  was  not  a  little  trouble  and  difficulty. 
And  as  some  facts  will  come  to  the  public  now  for  the  first 
time,  I  think  it  best  to  give  names. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Douglass,  who  was  then  quite  an  old 
man,  and  pretty  well  worn  out  in  the  work,  had  been  for  the 
three  preceding  years  on  the  Nashville  District,  and  as  the 
law  of  the  Church  would  allow  him  to  continue  another  year, 
it  was  his  pleasure  to  do  so.  But  between  him  and  a  portion 
of  the  stewards  in  the  bounds  of  the  District  difficulties  had 
sprung  up  :  not  that  there  was  any  thing  against  the  moral 
character  of  Brother  Douglass — in  that  respect  he  was  un- 
spotted ;  neither  was  it  because  they  did  not  like  his  preach- 
ing, for  he  was  an  able  minister.  The  difficulty  was  wholly 
on  the  subject  of  finance,  and  grew  out  of  the  manner  in 
which  the  stewards  settled  with  the  preachers  and  Presiding 
Elder.  The  Presiding  Elder,  by  the  law  of  the  Church,  is 
expected  to   share  pro  rata  with    the    preachers,   but    the 


68  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

stewards  considered  that  they  had  discretionary  powers  ;  and 
as  Brother  Douglass  was  well  off—  rich,  as  they  said — and  the 
preachers  generally  poor,  they  saw  cause  sometimes  to  pay 
the  preachers  more  than  their  proportion  and  the  Presiding 
Elder  less.  This  Brother  Douglass  protested  against,  and 
contended  that  the  Presiding  Elder's  portion  was  his  own, 
and  that  he  alone  had  the  right  to  dispose  <■!'  it.  This  dis- 
agreement became  so  strongly  fixed  that  there  seemed  to  be 
no  hope  for  the  better  ;  ami  the  Btewards  from  several  Circuits 
sent  np  petitions  t<>  the  Hi-hop  not  to  return  Brother  Douglass 
to  the  District.  Brother  Douglass  took  the  position  that  if 
he  had  not  done  the  work  assigned  him  as  a  Presiding  Elder, 
he  ought  to  be  removed,  hut  would  not  consent  to  be  removed 
on  the  grounds  urged  againsi  him.  A\  nilc  this  was  the  state 
of  affairs,  the  Bishop  consulted  the  other  Presiding  Elders, 
and  they  advised  that  Brother  Douglass  Bhould  not  be  re- 
turned to  the  District.  At  about  eleven  o'clock  on  the  Tues- 
day night  of  the  Conference,  a  servant  came  into  my  room 
and  said  that  the  Bishop  wanted  to  see  me.    Supposing  the 

Bishop  was  unwell,  I  hastened  to  his  room.  On  entering,  I 
found  him  alone,  his  long  stall'  in  his  hand,  walking  to  and 
fro,  in  apparently  troubled  haste.  I  said,  "How  are  you, 
Bishop?"  Stopping  suddenly,  he  gave  me  a  look  I  shall 
never  forget,  and  said,  "Jam  distressed!  Imn  distressed!"  and 
again  commenced  walking  the  room.  I  at  length  said, 
'■What  is  it  distresses  you,  Bishop?"  to  which  he  answered, 
"Brother  Douglass— Brother  Douglass  :  what  shall  I  do  with 
Brother  Douglass  ?"  Knowing  nothing  of  the  difficulties  in 
Brother  Douglass's  case,  and  such  being  the  apparent  pres- 
sure "on  the  mind  and  heart  of  the  Bishop,  it  alarmed  me, 
thinking  that  something  dreadful  had  turned  np.  I  at  i 
asked  what  was  the  matter  with  him.    lie  then  gave  the  I. 


WILLIAM    MCKENDREE.  69 

as  stated  above  with  respect  to  the  opposition  and  advice  of 
the  Presiding  Elders,  who  had  but  a  short  time  before  left 
his  room.  "  The  stewards  request  me  not  to  send  him  back, 
and  the  elders  advise  accordingly.  What  shall  I  do  f  what 
shall  I  do  f"  I  said  to  him :  "After  all,  you  are  the  only  re- 
sponsible man,  and  will  have  to  do  just  as  you  think  will  be 
for  the  best."  He  then  went  on  to  remark  about  as  follows : 
"I  know  Brother  Douglass — have  known  him  long — have 
known  him  well — known  him  in  times  of  trouble :  he  stood 
firm  when  others  faltered.  I  know  him  better  than  the 
stewards — better  than  the  Presiding  Elders :  he  is  a  true 
man — Thomas  Logan  Douglass  is  a  true  man!"  He  then 
went  on  to  say:  "He  is  an  old  man:  this  is  to  be  his  last 
effective  year  in  the  ministry.  If  I  do  not  return  him  to  the 
District,  he  sinks  at  once,  and  will  have  neither  time  nor 
strength  to  recover.  Yes,  he  will  be  an  injured  man  in  the 
estimation  of  his  brethren — injured  in  the  house  of  his 
friends."  He  further  remarked:  "It  is  a  small  matter  for 
his  brethren  to  bear  with  him  one  year,  though  they  may 
differ  in  their  views  of  finance ;  but  it  is  no  small  matter  to 
imbitter  the  declining  years  of  an  old  man  and  faithful  ser- 
vant of  the  Church."  Then,  as  though  it  required  the  gather- 
ing up  of  his  strength  for  the  act,  he  said:  "In  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  I  will  send  Brother  Douglass  back  to  the  Nashville 
District."  And  it  is  a  most  glorious  fact,  that  from  the  very 
beginning  to  the  close  of  the  year,  he  rose  continually;  and 
left  the  District,  at  the  end  of  his  term,  with  more  popularity 
than  he  had  ever  before  enjoyed.  At  Conference,  he  took  a 
supernumerary  relation,  and  remained  a  favorite  with  his 
brethren  till  by  death  he  was  removed  to  his  home  in  the 
skies.  What  a  delightful  thought  that  these  two  old  faithful 
servants  of  God  and  the   Church   are  restinsr  together  in 


70  BIOGRAPIIICAL    SKETCHES. 

heaven  to-day,  where  there  is  no  midnight  distress,  or  mis- 
understanding among  brethren  ! 

The  Bishop  was  very  much  devoted  to  his  old  friends.  I 
was  holding  a  camp -meeting,  I  think  in  1834,  at  what  was 
called  Old  Salem,  in  Sumner  county,  which  the  Bishop  at- 
tended, and  we  were  also  favored  with  the  pretence  of  the 
Rev.  William  Burke,  who  had  come  out  from  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  to  visit  a  relative  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
camp-ground.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  Bishop  and 
Mr.  Burke  meet.  Tiny  held  each  other's  grasp  for  some 
time,  the  Bishop  saying,  lk  1  am  very  happy  to  see  you  once 
more  at  camp-meeting;"  while  Mr.  Burke  Bays,  ""We  have 
camped  together  before,  Bishop."  Tears  came  into  their 
eyes.  They  talked  together  by  the  hour  <»t'  ether  days,  with 
an  evident  pleasure  which  was  refreshing  to  observe.  Mr. 
Burke  was  not  at  that  tine-  in  rMniH.cti.pn  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  but  was  the  pastor  of  an  independent  con- 
gregation in  Cincinnati  :  yet  T  put  him  up  t<>  preach,  so  that 
the  thousands  that  attended  (J  ting  had  the  great  pleasure 

of  hearing  each  of  these  two  dd  veterans  preach  once  a  day 
for  three  successive  days;  ami  T  would  perform  a  pilgrimage 
now  to  enjoy  such  a  privilege  again. 

Soon  after  this  meeting  was  over,  the  Bishop  said  to  me, 
"I  would  like  to  live  till  the  next  G-eneral  Conference  for  one 
thing."  "What  is  that,  Bishop?"  "I  want  to  BOS  Brother 
Burke  back  again  in  his  place  in  the  Church."  Although 
the  Bishop  did  not  live  to  attend  the  Conference,  yet  Mr. 
Burke  was  restored,  and  died  in  the  Chi; 

With  regard  to  the  extent  of  the  labors  of  the  Bishop,  we 
may  safely  say  that  he  wore  himself  out,  in  the  strictest 
sense  of  the  word.  Xo  rust  ever  gathered  upon  him.  lie 
was   in   every  valley,  crossed   all   the    mountains,   all    the 


WILLIAM    MCKENDEEE.  71 

streams :  his  voice  was  heard  in  the  crowded  cities  and 
sparsely-settled  frontier ;  and  in  all  these  lands  he  raised  the 
standard  of  the  cross,  and  showed  to  fallen  man  the  way  to 
heaven  through  Jesus  Christ.  He  even  forced  his  way  among 
the  tribes  of  Indians  on  our  borders,  and,  through  interpre- 
ters, pointed  them  to  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the 
sin  of  the  world.  He  was  one  of  the  few  aged  persons  of 
whom  it  may  be  said,  they  live  till  they  die.  He  wrote  but  little 
for  the  press,  although  he  would  no  doubt  have  been  a  writer 
of  great  ability  if  he  had  been  placed  under  circumstances 
suited  to  the  development  of  his  powers  in  that  direction. 
His  life  was  spent  in  the  field :  he  was  always  on  the  wing, 
and  had  not  time  to  write  much  beyond  his  correspondence, 
which  was  for  many  years  very  extensive ;  and  as  a  letter- 
writer  he  was  a  perfect  model.  In  the  main,  he  labored  for 
immediate  effect. 

From  his  great  exposure,  he  became  an  asthmatic  sufferer, 
and  was  also  troubled  with  neuralgia,  so  that  for  several  of 
the  last  years  of  his  life  he  was  exceedingly  feeble ;  yet  he 
preached  frequently  up  to  within  a  few  weeks  of  his  death. 
His  last  sermon  was  in  the  church  that  bears  his  name  in  the 
city  of  Nashville,  which  the  writer  of  this  sketch  had  the 
privilege  of  hearing.  I  can  in  my  imagination  see  him  this 
moment,  as  he  last  stood  on  the  walls  of  Zion  with  his  sickle 
in  his  hand :  the  gray  hairs  thinly  covering  his  forehead,  his 
pale  and  withered  face,  his  benignant  countenance,  his  speak- 
ing eye ;  while  a  deep  undercurrent  of  thought,  scarcely 
veiled  by  the  external  lineaments,  took  form  in  words,  and 
fell  from  his  trembling  lips,  as,  by  the  eye  of  faith,  he 
transcended  the  boundaries  of  time  and  entered  upon  the 
eternal  world.  But  he  is  drawing  to  the  close  of  his  sermon. 
Now,  for  the  last  time,  he  bends  himself  and  reaches  his 


72  BIOGKAPniCAL    SKETCHES. 

sickle  forth  to  reap  the  fields  ripe  for  the  harvest.  How 
balmy  the  name  of  Christ  as  he  breathes  it  forth,  standing  as 
it  were  midway  between  heaven  and  earth,  and  pointing  to  the 
home  of  the  faithful  in  the  sky !  I  look  again :  the  sickle 
sways  in  his  hand,  his  strength  is  measured  out,  and  he 
closes  up  his  ministerial  labors  on  earth  with  the  words,  "i 
add  no  ?norc,"  while  imagination  hears  the  response  from  the 
invisible  glory,  "It  is  enough  /" 

A  short  time  after,  he  left  the  city  to  visit  his  brother  and 
other  relations  in  Sumner  county.  When  about  to  leave,  a 
friend  said  to  him,  "  Bishop,  when  do  you  think  you  will  be 
back  again?"  lie  answered  by  saying,  "I  do  not  think  my- 
self back  at  all:  I  can  only  think  myself  to  Sumner  now.  I 
cannot  think  myself  far  ahead  these  days.  Should  I  get  to 
Sumner,  I  may  then,  after  a  while,  think  myself  back  again. 
I  ome  Laid  far-reaching  plans,  running  through  a  whole  year; 
but  now  my  plans  are  not  more  than  of  one  day's  length." 

He  was  at  that  time  suffering  with  an  inflammation  of  the 
forefinger  of  the  right  hand.  A  few  days  before,  a  little  por- 
tion of  the  skin  had  become  loosened  by  the  side  of  the  nail ; 
attempting  to  pull  it  off,  it  reached  the  quick,  and  made  the 
place  a  little  sore.  In  writing,  the  ink  from  his  pen  got  into 
the  place,  and  lie  thought  poisoned  it.  His  finger  continued 
to  inflame,  and  became  very  painful:  this  deprived  him  of 
his  accustomed  rest,  and  was  apparently  the  immediate  cause 
of  his  death.  He  was  enabled,  however,  to  reach  his  brother's 
house  in  Sumner  county,  where  he  had  the  presence  of  his 
relatives  and  the  kind  attention  of  his  beloved  sister,  Naney^ 
as  he  called  her,  whom  he  had  always  cherished  with  a  bro- 
ther's love.  Soon  after  reaching  his  friends  in  Sumner,  he 
took  his  bed,  from  which  he  arose  no  more.  lie  was  for  a 
short  time  during  his  last  illness  troubled  a  little  in  mind ; 


WILLIAM    MCKENDREE.  73 

which  one  writer  calls  a  temptation.  The  nature  of  the  afflic- 
tion I  perfectly  understood,  having  conversed  with  hirn  on 
the  subject.  It  was  as  follows :  He  always  had  a  strong  de- 
sire to  be  useful  as  long  as  he  lived,  and  could  not  bear  the 
idea  of  becoming  a  burden ;  and  finding  that  he  could  no 
longer  go  in  and  out  among  the  people,  and  be  of  service  to 
the  Church,  he  was  fearful  that  he  might  become  too  anxious 
to  depart,  and  not  with  sufficient  resignation  wait  the  Lord's 
time.  A  strong  desire  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ  will  be 
regarded  by  many  in  another  light  than  that  of  a  temptation. 

He  suffered  considerably  during  this  illness,  though  in  the 
last  few  days  of  his  life  he  was  free  from  pain.  His  sweet- 
ness of  temper,  his  words  of  kindness,  his  strong,  unshaken 
faith,  made  ever-during  impressions  on  all  around  him.  He 
was  constantly  saying  some  kind  thing  to  those  who  attended 
him.  Once  when  he  awoke  from  sleep,  he  said  to  his  sister 
and  nieces,  who  were  watching  by  his  bedside,  "You  are 
like  lamps  burning  while  I  sleep,  to  cheer  me  when  I  wake." 

It  was  the  high  privilege  of  the  writer  to  spend  a  night 
with  him  just  before  his  death.  0,  how  rich  were  the  words 
that  fell  from  his  lips !  Among  other  things,  I  at  one  time 
said  to  him,  "Bishop,  I  may  live  when  you  have  passed 
away,  and  wherever  I  go  your  friends  will  want  to  hear  from 
you:  what  shall  I  say  to  them?"  To  which  he  answered, 
"Tell  them  for  me,  that  whether  for  time  or  for  eternity, 
All's  well!"  This  was  a  favorite  saying  with  the  Bishop, 
and  was  the  last  connected  sentence  that  ever  fell  from  his 
lips. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  1835,  he  rendered  up  to  the  Church 
the  parchment  he  had  so  long  held  as  a  minister  of  Christ, 
as  pure  and  unspotted  as  a  flake  of  mountain  snow.  A  smile 
passed  over  his  face,  he  took  his  leave  of  the  Church  mili- 


74  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

taut,  gathered  up  his  feet,  the  earth  swept  from  beneath  him, 
the  heavens  were  opened,  the  chariot  passed  over  the  ever- 
lasting hills,  now  loaded  with  sheaves  gathered  from  the 
harvest -field  of  this  world's  ruin,  and,  with  the  approving 
sentence  from  his  Lord,  ""Well  done,  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant," like  a  wreath  circling  his  brow,  and  the  shout  of 
welcome  from  all  heaven,  "Enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
Lord,"  he  passed  through  the  gates  into  the  city. 


WILLIAM    CAPERS.  75 


WILLIAM   CAPERS. 

BY    WILLIAM    M.    WIGHTMAN,    D.  D. 

The  beautiful  and  boundless  variety  of  nature  may  be 
traced  in  the  moral  world  also.  Manifold  are  the  types  of 
excellence  to  be  noted  in  those  instrumentalities  which  are 
taken  up  by  a  gracious  God  into  his  plans  for  the  spiritual 
renovation  of  the  world.  In  one  man,  we  observe  a  wonder- 
ful depth  of  intellect ;  in  another,  the  predominance  of  the 
emotional  nature.  One  exhibits  an  imperial  spread  of  ima- 
gination ;  another,  a  vast  practical  energy,  a  special  tact  for 
government.  Here  is  the  severe  logician — a  John  Wesley ; 
there  the  captivating  orator — a  George  "Whitefield.  Bascom 
sweeps  with  arrowy  rush  through  the  airy  regions  of  the 
sublime ;  Olin,  unique,  colossal,  searches  the  abysses  of  the 
soul ;  Capers,  master  of  a  style  copious,  elegant,  and  felici- 
tous, captivates  by  the  charm  of  genuine  refinement.  How 
different  each  of  these  from  all  the  rest!  and  yet  each  is 
peerless  in  his  own  department — a  model  preacher — a  study. 
By  this  rich  variety  of  endowment  is  the  edification  of  the 
Church  sought  to  be  promoted  by  its  Divine  Head.  "  There 
are  diversities  of  gifts,  but  the  same  Spirit." 

Dr.  Capers  long  enjoyed  a  national  reputation.  He  was 
indeed  worthy  of  all  honor.    His  was  the  manly  nobility  of 


76  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

character  which  every  one  admires  in  an  eminent  man,  and 
the  vital  warmth  thai  wins  hearts.  The  elegance  of  a  fin- 
ished gentleman  in  manners  was  in  him  combined  with  the 
simplicity,  purify,  and  benevolence  of  a  deeply -spiritual 
Christian.  He  shone  in  the  pulpit,  in  the  Conference,  in  the 
social  circle;  waa  one  of  the  most  interesting  companions 
one  ever  travelled  with;  and  was  just  the  sort  of  spiritual 
adviser  and  comforter  one  would  desire  in  time  of  distress, 
Bickness,  or  at  the  approach  of  death.  On  many  accounts, 
then,  In'  presents  a  character  which  it  is  equally  pleasant  and 
profitable  to  contemplate. 

William  Capers  was  horn  in  St.  Thomas's  Parish,  in  South 
Carolina,  January  -•''.  1790.  Hi-  birthplace  was  at  his  lather's 
winter  residence,  some  twenty  mil.-  from  the  city  of  Charles- 
ton. Ee  l  same  of  a  Huguenot  family.  His  t'at her,  Major 
"William  Capers,  was  a  planter  in  hands.. me  circumstances; 
had  been  a  brave  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  held  a  com- 
mission  in  the  Second  Continental  Regiment,  raised  by  the 
of  South  Carolina.  Ee  was  in  the  battles  of  Fort 
Moultrie  and  Eutaw;  was  in  the  sieges  of  Charleston  and 
nnali;  and  afterward  served  with  Marion.  After  the 
war,  lie  was  among  the  iir.-t  who  joined  the  Methodista  in  his 

native    Slat.',    and    his    hoUSC   was    one    of    Bishop    Asbury's 

homes.    He  was  the  worthy  sire  of  a  distinguished  .-on. 

William's  early  life  was  \*'vy  happy.  In  his  twelfth  year, 
he  was  sent  to  a  boarding-school  at  some  distance  from  home, 
where  privations  and  hardships  served  to  strengthen  his  con- 
stitution and  train  his  powers  of  self-reliance.  In  his  six- 
teenth year,  he  was  admitted  into  the  Sophomore  class  in  the 
South  Carolina  College.  Before  the  time  of  graduation, 
however,  he  left  college,  and  began  the  study  of  law  with 
Judge  Richardson.    His  religious  training  at  home  had  pre- 


WILLIAM    CAPERS.  77 

served  his  morals  from  the  vitiating  influences  which,  at 
college,  too  often  blight  youthful  character  and  promise,  and 
from  the  dry-rot  of  deistical  principles,  which  at  that  time 
were  popular  among  many  of  his  young  contemporaries. 
But  he  was  ambitious  and  gay,  popular  among  the  ladies, 
and  fond  of  the  excitement  of  the  ball-room. 

In  1808,  he  was  brought  to  the  personal  experience  of  the 
grace  of  God,  and  happily  converted  in  the  family  circle, 
while  his  venerable  father  was  engaged  in  prayer.  He  em- 
braced the  earliest  opportunity  of  joining  the  Methodist 
Church,  going  into  that  measure,  by  which  he  finally  and  for 
ever  broke  with  the  world,  with  singular  simplicity  and 
whole-heartedness.  In  a  few  weeks,  he  accepted  a  cordial 
invitation  given  him  by  the  preacher  in  charge  of  the  cir- 
cuit, the  Rev.  "William  Gassaway,  to  accompany  him  on  his 
round  of  appointments.  His  law-books  were  thrown  aside ; 
and  without  any  definite  convictions  as  to  the  duty  of  preach- 
ing, but  mainly  for  the  spiritual  profit  he  anticipated  from 
the  society  of  his  friend  Gassaway,  he  set  out  with  him. 
Much  to  his  astonishment,  at  the  close  of  the  first  service 
after  he  had  taken  the  circuit,  he  was  invited  into  the  pulpit 
and  bidden  to  exhort.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  heard  the 
word,  in  its  technical  sense.  He  thought  to  himself,  the 
word  must  come  from  "exhortor" — that  means,  to  beseech 
earnestly:  he  was  taken  by  the  hand  and  helped  into  the 
pulpit;  and  there  commenced  his  brilliant  career  as  a 
preacher. 

Before  his  six  months'  trial  was  over,  he  was  recommended 
to  the  Annual  Conference,  his  conviction  being  now  clear 
that  God  had  called  him  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Bishops 
Asbury  and  McKendree  were  present  at  the  Conference  where 
he  was  admitted  into  the  travelling  Connection.     His  first 


TO  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

circuit  was  called  the  TVateree:  it  embraced  twenty-four  ap- 
pointments, was  a  four  weeks'  circuit,  and  about  three  bun- 
round,  lie  was  sent  there  alone  and  in  charge. 
He  attended  faithfully  to  his  duties  during  the  year,  having 
missed  but  a  single  appointment,  and  that  <m  account  of  rain. 
His  next  circuit  was  Pedee,  from  which  he  was  removed,  at 
the  Becond  quarterly  meeting,  to  the  town  of  Fayetteville, 
X.  ('.,  where  be  spent  the  remainder  of  the  year  with  much 
pleasure  to  himself  and  advantage  to  the  flock 

He  had  now  passed  his  novitiate,  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  South  Carolina  Conference,  and  ordained  deacon  by 
Bishop  Asbury.  The  next  year  was  spenl  in  Charleston,  and 
the  following  on  the  Orangeburg  Circuit,  and  then  he  was 
ordained  elder  by  Bishop  McKendree,  and  Btationed  in  Wil- 
mington, N.  C. 

On  his  way  to  this  appointment  be  was  married.  Wil- 
mington  was  one  of  the  three  stations  in  the  Conference 
which  had  parsonages.  This  preachers'  house  bad  nothing 
to  boast  of  in  point  of  size  or  accommodations.  The  two 
ping  apartments  were  just  high  enough  to  allow  an 
ordinary-sized  man  to  stand  upright  with  bis  bat  off.  Mr. 
Capers  consoled  himself  with  the  reflection  that  hats  were 
made  to  be  worn  out  of  doors.  lie  bad  a  young,  charmingly 
beautiful,  and  deeply  pious  wife,  whom  he  loved  with  pas- 
sionate fondness,  to  share  the  accommodations  of  this  humble 
parsonage  with  him.  I  dare  say,  under  the  circumstances, 
the  inmates  of  a  palace  might  well  have  envied  him  his  hap- 
piness. 

Ilis  next  circuit  was  among  bis  relatives,  where  be  bad  no 
need  of  a  parsonage.  lie  was  a  rising  man,  full  of  youthful 
vigor,  with  the  promise  of  many  years  of  distinguished  use- 
fulness before  bim.     But  he  was  married,  and  the  Church  in 


WILLIAM    CAPERS.  79 

those  days  made  no  provision  for  married  preachers.  The 
popular  doctrine  was,  that  when  a  minister  married,  he  must 
locate.  In  his  circumstances,  there  seemed  no  alternative :  it 
cost  him  much  trouble  of  mind,  many  hours  of  anxious  de- 
liberation ;  but  the  result  was  his  location.  And  now  a  small 
farm  was  settled :  hard  work  at  the  plough  all  the  week,  and 
preaching  at  some  neighboring  church  on  Sunday ;  but  that 
lovely  young  wife  turned  the  farm  into  a  paradise.  The  year 
fled  on  rapid  wing ;  but  before  the  snows  of  December  lay 
on  the  ground,  that  beautiful  being  is  no  more !  At  one 
sharp  stroke,  the  desire  of  his  eyes  is  taken  from  him. 
Enough  of  the  farm  now.  The  lesson  was  solemn,  but  well 
improved.  Thenceforth,  a  full  consecration  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry  was  the  result. 

•  In  1818,  he  was  readmitted  into  the  Conference,  and  sta- 
tioned in  Columbia,  and  the  two  following  years  in  Sa- 
vannah, Ga. 

In  1820,  he  was  for  the  first  time  elected  a  delegate  to  the 
General  Conference.  William  Capers  is  now  a  man.  He  is 
thirty  years  old,  and  has  won  a  name  in  the  Church.  Let  us 
look  at  him  more  minutely. 

His  stature  is  five  feet  and  some  nine  inches.  His  face  is 
finely  moulded,  and  animate  with  blended  intelligence  and 
kindness.  His  eye  is  black,  lustrous,  and  full  of  power.  As 
for  his  voice,  it  is  "musical  as  Apollo's  lute."  In  listening 
to  one  of  his  discourses,  the  first  thing  that  strikes  you  is 
the  wonderful  fluency  of  the  man.  He  goes  on  and  on,  like 
some  fine  instrument  wound  up  and  set  agoing — smoothly, 
easily,  naturally,  the  right  words  coming  in  at  the  right 
place.  These  words,  too,  are  all  orthodox,  good,  old  English 
words,  easy  to  be  understood  even  in  the  galleries.  •  An  air 
of  classic  elegance,  in  the  vein  of  the  old  Horatian  "  simplex 


80  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

A7/A,"  pervades  the  whole  affair.  There  is  no  strain  after 
sonorous,  Johnsonian  terms,  no  building  up  of  magniloquent 
periods. 

Then,  you  are  struck  with  another  thing:  there  is  a  mani- 

asped  of  originality  in  his  treatment  of  the  matter  in 
hand.     He  uses   no    formal    divisions  or  subdivisions.     His 

od  is  distinct  though  peculiar.  There  is  a  central 
point,  the  key-position  of  the  sermon,  on  which  all  the  re- 
marks are  founded,  ami  which  the  listener  presently  eom- 
mands.  This  is  the  point  of  view  which  gives  you  a  sight 
of  the  whole   field.      The  route  to  this  may  have  seemed,  and 

actually  been,  Bomewhat  eirenitous;  but  the  preacher  was 

taking  m>  random  steps:  he  saw  from  the  first  his  distances 
ami  bearings.  He  i-  capable  of  discussing  the  great  prin- 
ciple, whatever  it  may  he,  contained  in  his  text,  without  the 
artificial  helps  of  heads  of  discourse  formally  announced  at 
the  OUtset. 

A_-ain,  his  modes  of  argumentation  and  illustration  Beem 
to  bear  the  impress  of  original  mental  elaboration,  and  to 
ow>-  very  little,  if  any  thing,  to  profound  scholarship  and  ex- 
Ac  and  various  reading.     His  mind  is  much  more  of  a 
Belf-fed,  spring,  than  of  a  capacious  reservoir  into 

which  other  men's  thoughts  have  heen  pumped.  lie  has 
studied  evidently  and  thoroughly  two  great  hooks,  however — 
the  Bihle  and  man.  lie  has  reflected  profoundly  upon  the 
•  law  of  adjustment  between  the  former  and  the  latter, 
and  -.arched  out  the  manifold  relations  of  this  law.  He  has 
a  firm  hold  upon  the  central  peculiarities  of  the  gospel — its 
atoning  sacrifice,  its  promised  Spirit  of  grace.  The  bent  of 
his  genius  does  not  lie  in  the  direction  of  metaphysical 
speculation  :  he  takes  his  premises  as  the  gospel  gives  them, 
without   going  back   of  the   revelation   to   inquire   for  the 


WILLIAM    CAPERS.  81 

reasons.  He  has  fancy  rather  than  imagination  ;  an  intellect 
acute,  masculine,  ready,  rather  than  the  widest  spread  of  the 
faculty  of  generalization.  You  have  heard  of  his  fame  for 
eloquence ;  you  expect  perhaps  to  listen  to  the  full,  grand, 
orchestral  swell  of  Olin,  or  the  booming  thunder  of  Bascom. 
But  the  forte  of  Capers  is  not  the  grand  and  overwhelming, 
lie  reminds  you  rather  of  a  beautiful  summer  sunrise,  with 
the  sparkle  of  its  dewdrops,  the  melodies  of  its  birds,  the 
freshness  of  its  breeze. 

He  was  fond  of  preaching  on  the  parables  and  the  leading 
historic  incidents  embraced  in  the  Gospel  narrative.  In 
treating  this  class  of  subjects,  his  powers  of  fine  discrimina- 
tion, his  tact  in  dissecting  character,  his  minute  tracery  of 
motive,  his  fertility  of  illustration  and  fervor  of  devotional 
feeling,  were  all  shown  in  a  masterly  style.  His  ordinary 
preaching  kept  the  level  of  a  solemn,  animated,  edifying 
appeal  to  the  reason  and  conscience  of  his  audience. 

Sometimes,  when  a  special  occasion  awakened  powerfully 
his  emotional  nature,  and  he  was  roused  to  the  full  strength 
of  his  intellect,  his  preaching  was  great — sublime.  In  1822, 
at  the  Rembert's  camp-ground,  he  preached  a  sermon  on  the 
text,  "  Thou  that  leadest  Joseph  like  a  flock,  thou  that  dwell- 
est  between  the  cherubim,  shine  forth."  His  subject  wras  the 
developments  of  Providence  and  the  manifestations  of  grace. 
From  all  I  have  heard  of  that  sermon,  I  doubt  if  it  was  ever 
surpassed,  if  equalled,  in  South  Carolina. 

During  the  same  year,  at  a  camp -meeting  in  Putnam 
county,  Ga.,  in  the  presence  of  an  overwhelming  audience, 
after  an  eloquent  sermon  preached  by  Dr.  Pierce,  he  delivered 
an  exhortation  the  effect  of  which  will  never  be  forgotten. 
In  this  he  rose  to  the  highest  mood  of  impassioned  feeling. 
He  seemed  to  drive  the  chariot  of  the  earthquake,  his  steeds 
6 


82  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

the  storm-clouds.  The  world  of  woe,  at  his  bidding,  un- 
covered its  horrors,  and  its  despair-riven  victims,  incarnated, 
so  to  speak,  and  voiced,  passed  in  awful  procession  before 
the  audience,  crying,  Woe,  woe,  woe!  The  very  heavens 
ed  to  send  back,  in  reverberating  crashes,  these  terrific 
woes.  The  effect  was  awful  beyond  description.  One  gentle- 
man was  put  into  a  state  of  derangement.  Judge  Shorter, 
who  was  present,  declared  to  a  friend,  some  days  after,  that 
the  "woes"  with  which  Dr.  <  had  closed  had 

been  ringing  in  his  ear-  ever  since,  and  that  he  heard  them 
day  ami  night,  asleep  <>r  awake.  At  the  invitation  of  Dr. 
Capers,  the  mighty  crowd,  as  one  man,  dropped  on  the 
;nd,  and  the  voice  of  weeping  and  intercession  Bmote  the 
-  Bnpposed  that  not  less  than  a  thousand 
persons  were  convicted  of  Bill  as  the  result  of  the  meeting; 
and  a  revival  of  religion  ensued  which  seemed  to  sweep 
every  thing  before  it. 

One  of  tl.  masterly  ami  powerful  appeals  I  ever 

heard  from  human  lips,  in  defence  of  the  position  that  per- 
sonal Christianity  must  have  in  it  a  direct,  Divine  ;■ 

nip-meeting  sermon  preached  by  him,  on  the  text, 
"Go  and  BhowJohn   again  what  tilings  ye  do  hear  and 
the  blind  receive   their  sight,"  etc.     He  brought  the  tenth 
legion  into  the  field  that  day. 

Another  sermon  scarcely  inferior,  I  heard  him  preach  in 
1829,  on  the  text,  "And  now,  little  children,  abide  in  him, 
that  when  he  shall  appear  we  may  have  confidence,  and  not 
be  ashamed  before  him  at  his  coming."  In  a  vigorous  stylo 
of  argument,  he  examined  the  leading  types  of  defective  re- 
ligionism— pointed  out  the  grounds  of  their  insufficiency — 
swept  them  away,  and  presented  in  clear  light  the  true  source 
of  divine  life  in  the  soul  of  the  believer,  and  its  sufficiency 


WILLIAM    CAPERS.  83 

for  all  possible  exigencies.  lie  portrayed  in  words  of  fire 
the  grandeur  of  Christ's  second  appearing,  before  one  glance 
of  which  all  that  is  loftiest  in  human  things  pales  and  be- 
comes insignificant.  Amidst  the  splendors  and  terrors  of  the 
scene,  the  strength  of  that  principle  of  "confidence,"  the 
result  of  abiding  in  Christ,  was  shown :  how  it  rose  superior 
to  the  world's  philosophy  and  painted  pomps,  and,  in  a  vital- 
ity indestructible  and  triumphant,  asserted  its  power  to  sus- 
tain the  soul,  since  it  recognized  a  brother  on  the  throne  of 
judgment — one  who,  having  redeemed  us,  had  carried  our 
nature  and  fortunes  with  him  as  he  traversed  the  adoring 
heavens,  and  will  bring  the  same  nature,  encompassed  by 
jubilant  millions,  to  the  judgment  of  the  great  day. 

If,  however,  he  sometimes  rose  above  himself,  under  cir- 
cumstances of  peculiar  excitement,  he  occasionally  fell  below 
his  accustomed  level.  Who,  indeed,  does  not  ?  I  incline  to 
suppose  that  preachers  remarkably  gifted  with  a  fluent  de- 
livery are  somewhat  liable  to  the  temptation  of  trusting  too 
much  to  the  inspiration  of  the  moment  in  preaching,  without 
a  due  foregoing  preparation.  For  many  hearers  a  fine  flow 
of  words,  gracefully  uttered,  will  serve  to  cover  up  consider- 
able poverty  of  thought ;  and  the  veriest  commonplaces  of 
the  pulpit  may  be  passed  off"  for  good  preaching,  provided 
they  are  dressed  up  in  the  drapery  of  a  clever  style.  I  have 
heard  sermons  which  seemed  to  take  very  well  with  the 
crowd,  though  they  explained  nothing,  proved  and  enforced 
nothing,  contained,  in  fact,  no  living  idea — not  a  suggestion 
that  struck  or  stuck.  A  pleasant  voice,  a  fine  manner,  and 
words,  words,  words — this  comprehended  the  sum  total. 
Xow,  there  are  words  that  are  half-battles,  as  Richter  said  of 
Luther's.  There  are  words  of  fire,  words  which  cut  with  an 
edge  of  steel,  words  which  rive  like  the  lightning.     Such 


^4  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

words,  however,  are  instinct  with  thought,  or  tremulous  with 
]  asflion  :  they  arc  horn  of  the  inner  essence  of  the  soul  when 
"  deep  calleth  unto  deep."  They  might  challenge  for  them- 
selves the  lofty  apostrophe  of  the  Hebrew  prophet,  "Hear, 
( »  heavens  !  and  give  ear,  ( I  earth  !" 

Some  of  Dr.  Capers's  sermons,  as  I  have  observed,  were 
made  up  of  this  latter  kind  of  words.  They  fell  with  an 
effect  apon  the  soul  which  time  cannot  obliterate.  Candor 
compels  me  to  add  that  occasionally  a  sermon  of  his  would 
betray  confusion  of  ideas,  or  poverty  of  thought)  the  Indi- 
cations of  inadequate  mental  preparation.  Generally,  he 
thought  rapidly  and  dearly.  It  Las  been  said  of  him  that 
yon  might  give  him  a  text  at  the  dinner-table,  and  he  would 
be  ready  to  preach  <>n  it  by  the  time  he  had  walked  to  the 
church. 

Returning  one  night  with  him  from  a  crowded  congrega- 
tion where  he  had  preached,  seemingly  with  his  usual   I 
he  asked  me  if  I  had  perceived  a  break  in  the  thread  of  his 

OUrse.      He   then    added  that  the  Bubject  had  not  received 

Bufficienl  previous  reflection,  and  that  in  the  middle  of  the 
•  mi  he  came  Buddenly  to  the  edge  of  an  abyss  of  dark- 

-  through  which  not  a  ray  of  light  glimmered.  To  have 
paused  to  gather  up  the  missing  links  of  thought,  would 
have  been  to  break  down  utterly.  Ilis  expedient  was  to 
strike  off  at  a  tangent.  This  he  did  bo  easily  and  readily, 
that  I  doubt  if  half  a  dozen  of  his  audience  detected  the 
ral  hiatus,  or  were  aware  of  any  interruption  in  the  flow 
of  consecutive  idi 

Sometimes  he  was  betrayed  into  b  too  minute  attention  to 
matters  connected  but  remotely  with  the  main  topic,  and 
sacrificed  breadth  and  power  of  striking  impression  to  deli- 
cacy and  i  ■■  fertility  of  illustration. 


WILLIAM    CAPERS.  OO 

A  felicitous  description  of  the  preaching  of  Dr.  Bunting 
would,  I  think,  apply  to  Dr.  Capers,  at  his  ordinary  mean 
between  the  extremes  just  indicated  :  "His  pulpit  addresses 
are  luminous,  but  without  glare :  it  is  a  kind  of  sober,  chas- 
tised, cathedral  light,  in  its  general  effect,  with  the  addition 
of  a  powerful  stream  reflected  on  different  portions  of  the 
subject,  as  if  several  concentrated  rays  had  found  their  way 
through  a  solitary  square  of  unstained  glass,  and  passed  be- 
tween some  of  the  principal  pillars  in  the  interior  of  St. 
Paul's  or  "Westminster  Abbey." 

Dr.  Capers  never  needed  urging  to  preach:  he  seemed 
always  willing  and  ready.  No  apprehension  appeared  to 
trouble  him  that  he  might  exhaust  his  resources,  or  that  a 
great  reputation  for  pulpit  eloquence  needed  caution  and 
care  in  its  public  manifestations. 

He  had  trained  himself  from  his  youth  to  a  felicitous  man- 
agement of  his  voice,  so  as  to  avoid  the  extremes  of  tones 
too  high  or  too  low.  It  was  consequently  seldom  strained  or 
injured  by  his  pulpit  efforts,  however  often  repeated.  His 
manner  in  the  pulpit  was  uniformly  characterized  by  a  high 
and  delicate  sense  of  propriety.  He  was  easy  and  graceful, 
but  always  solemn.  Every  movement  indicated  a  deep  sin- 
cerity, the  antithesis  of  all  mere  rhetorical  art,  the  natural 
expression  of  a  master-mind  intent  upon  its  theme,  warmed 
with  genuine  animation,  and  yet  chastened  by  habitual  so- 
briety of  thought.  His  fine  face  lent  its  varied  expression  to 
the  character  of  the  subject;  and  that  expression  was  con- 
centrated in  the  "electric  flashing  of  the  eyes."  No  manu- 
script ever  interfered  with  the  power  of  these  eyes.  They 
sent  their  radiant,  searching  glances  over  the  upturned  faces 
of  the  congregation,  and  caught  the  first  sign  of  "  answering 
fire"  given  forth  in  any  direction.     This  subtile  sympathy 


86  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

between  Bpeaker  and  hearer  is,  after  all,  the  grand  secret  of 
eloqnence.     I  agree  with  Milhurn  in  laying  stress  on  this 

er  of  the  eye,     I  :  kl  The  sj»*-:ik«.-r  pursues  the  line 

of  his  thought:  a  Bentence  i>  dropped  which  falls  like  a 
kindling  spark  into  the  breast  "f  some  one  present.  The 
light  of  that  spark  Bhoots  ap  to  his  eyes,  and  Bends  an  answer 
to  the  Bpeaker.  The  telegraphic  Bignal  Lb  felt,  and  the 
Bpeaker  is  instantly  tenfold  the  Btronger:  he  believes  what 
he  is  Baying  more  deeply  than  before,  when  a  second  senl 
creat  ponse  in  another  pari  of  the  hoi  '  •  he  pro? 

coeds,  the  listless  are  arrested,  the  Letharj  ttartled  into 

attention,  tokens  of  sympathy  and  emotion   flash  out  upon 
him  from  every  portion  of  the  audience.     That  audience 
lent  to  him  v-  strength.    It  is  the  Bame  double  action  which 
characterizes  every  movement  of  the  universe — action  and 

■ion;  the  Bpeaker  giving  the  best  that  is  in  him  to  his 
hearers,  they  lending  the  divinest  portion  of  themselves  to 
him.  This  tidal  movement  of  Bympathy,  this  magnetic  ac- 
tion, awakening  and  answering  in  the  eyes  of  Bpeaker 

per,  by  which  he  is  filled  with  their  life,  and  they  per- 
vaded by  his  thought,  is  to  me  the  secrel  and  the  conditi 
of  real  eloquent 

I  have  embodied  in  the  foregoing  Bketch  my  impressions 
and  recollections  of  Bishop  Capers  as  a  preacher.    T  honor 

memory  for  the  undeviating  constancy  of  his  devotion  to 
the  itinerant  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Church.  That  con- 
stancy was  tried  by  much  exposure,  hardship,  peril,  self-sac- 
rifice,  as  well  as  by  some  tempting  lures.  Winn  he  was 
stationed  in  Savannah,  in  1819,  a  terrific  visitation  <>\'  yellow 
fever  desolated  the  city.  The  idea  of  deserting  his  post 
never  entered  his  mind.  Day  and  night  he  was  in  the  thick 
of  the  pestilence.     His  noble  disinterestedness  and  fearless 


WILLIAM    CAPERS.  87 

bravery,  in  ministering  to  the  sick  and  dying,  together  with 
his  rare  gifts  of  eloquence,  led  to  an  offer  on  the  part  of  the 
wealthiest  congregation  then  in  Georgia,  of  the  pastorship 
of  their  church,  made  vacant  by  the  lamented  death  of  Dr. 
Kollock.  The  salary  was  one  of  the  largest  at  that  time  paid 
to  any  minister  in  the  United  States.  The  position  was  hon- 
orable and  influential.  No  surrender  of  doctrinal  peculiari- 
ties was  asked.  He  might  readily  have  exchanged  the  hard 
and  poorly-paid  service  of  a  Methodist  travelling  preacher 
for  ease,  affluence,  and  high  respectability.  But  it  cost  him 
no  second  thought  to  decline  the  offer. 

Several  times  his  life  was  in  imminent  peril  in  his  many 
journeyings.  He  once  drove  over  a  high  bridge,  which  he 
did  not  know  at  the  time  to  be  unsafe.  He  had  his  family 
with  him  in  the  carriage.  The  moment  the  carriage  was 
over,  the  bridge  fell  with  a  loud  crash ;  but  he  was  safe.  At 
another  time,  in  crossing  one  of  the  low -country  river 
swamps,  in  time  of  a  freshet,  he  made  an  almost  miraculous 
escape  from  drowning,  with  his  whole  family.  On  one  of 
the  Alabama  river  steamboats,  he  was  within  a  hair's-breadth 
of  destruction,  but  escaped  unhurt.  Once  or  twice  his  life 
was  despaired  of,  in  severe  visitations  of  fever,  contracted  in 
the  discharge  of  his  clerical  duties.  He  spent  a  handsome 
patrimony  in  the  service  of  the  Church,  and  was  often  re- 
duced to  straits  and  shifts  to  get  on.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  entirely  dependent  on  his  salary  for  the  support 
of  his  family.  But,  nevertheless,  God  was  gracious  to  him 
all  the  wdiile :  he  succeeded  in  educating  his  children ;  saw 
most  of  them  happily  married,  and  usefully  engaged  in  the 
honorable  employments  of  life;  and  left  to  them  what  is 
better  than  houses  or  lands — the  legacy  of  an  untarnished 
name,  of  an  example  bright  in  all  paternal  excellence,  illus- 


88  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

trious  in  life-long  consecration  to  the  highest  good  of  his 
fellows. 

Dr.  Capers  possessed  the  confidence  and  affectionate  esteem 
of  his  brethren  in  a  high  degree.  He  was  b  member  of  every 
General  Conference  from  1820  to  the  time  of  his  election  to 
the  Episcopal  office.  At  the  General  Conference  of  1828,  he 
was  appointed  a  representative  of  the  American  Methodist 
Chnrch  to  the  British  Wesleyan  Conference.  In  the  eccle- 
fcical  assembly  he  was  a  ready,  skilful  debater.  He  al- 
ways look  a  prominent  part  in  all  the  important  business 
transacted.    Dr.  Olin  said  of  him  thai  there  was  no  end  to 

the  work  that  was  in  him. 

IK- was  the  pioneer  in  the  first  missionary  enterprise  under- 
taken by  the  South  Carolina  Conference,  that,  namely,  to  the 
(  •  k  Indians,  then  occupying  the  western  border  of  Georgia. 
Bis  name  is  identified  with  the  formation  of  the  important 
dona  to  the  blacks  in  the  low  country  of  the  Carolines 
ami  Georgia.  For  severa]  years  he  held  the  posl  of  Mission- 
ary Secretary  for  the  Southern  department  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  travelled  extensively,  devoting  his 
whole  time  to  thai  important  field  of  service. 

From  this  he  was  transferred,  at  the  first  session  of  the 
Southern  Genera]  Conference,  to  the  Episcopal  office.  This 
office  he  filled  with  dignity  and  usefulness  for  nine  years. 
From  exposure  to  had  weather  on  one  of  his  early  tours  of 
Episcopal  visitation,  his  health  became  infirm,  and  he  was 
not  at  all  times  fully  equal  to  the  severe  burdens  imposed  on 
the  incumbents  of  this  office.  But  he  was  characterized  to 
the  last  by  his  usual  habits  of  punctuality  and  promptness. 
I  had  the  great  happiness  to  travel  with  him  part  of  the  last 
journey  he  ever  made.  His  health  seemed  improved  :  his 
spirits  were  good;  his  conversation  possessed  its  usual  viva- 


WILLIAM    CAPERS.  89 

city  and  range ;  his  eye  was  bright ;  and  I  little  thought,  in 
parting  with  him,  that  I  had  seen  the  last  of  him  on  earth. 
A  week  or  two  afterwards,  he  was  with  God.  He  had  fought 
the  good  fight,  finished  his  course,  kept  the  faith,  and  en- 
tered into  the  joy  of  his  Lord. 

Thus  we  have  traced  the  character  and  public  services  of 
a  man  identified  with  the  growth  of  the  Southern  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  nearly  half  a  century.  He  formed  a 
connecting  link  between  the  first  and  the  present  race  of 
Methodist  ministers.  He  began  in  the  heroic  age  of  the 
itinerant  service,  and  bore  his  full  share  in  the  hardships, 
toils,  and  privations  of  the  primitive  times — times  which 
tried  men's  souls  and  bodies  also.  He  carried  into  this  ser 
vice  the  earnestness,  simplicity,  talent,  and  activity  of  a  large 
soul,  which  was  devoted  without  reserve  to  Christ.  He 
"broke  with  the  world,"  to  use  his  own  emphatic  phrase,  at 
the  day  of  his  conversion  to  God.  He  turned  his  back  upon 
the  honors  and  emoluments,  the  ease  and  pleasures  of  the 
world,  when  all  these  lay  in  full  prospect  before  him ;  and 
never  counted  that  he  had  made  a  sacrifice — never  cast  one 
lingering  look  of  regret  upon  the  abandoned  aspirations  of 
his  youth.  He  has  left  upon  the  Annual  Conference  of 
which  for  so  many  years  he  was  a  "bright,  particular  star," 
the  impress  of  his  large  views,  of  his  thorough  devotion  to 
the  itinerant  ministry,  of  his  catholic,  unremitting  zeal,  of 
his  aptitude  for  work,  of  his  missionary  spirit.  In  all  these 
particulars,  preeminently  in  the  last,  that  body  of  Christian 
ministers  is  inferior  to  none  on  this  continent.  "  Great  men," 
says  Dr.  Arnold,  "can  only  act  permanently  by  forming 
great  nations."  It  is  a  noble  distinction,  worthy  of  the 
highest  aspiration  of  the  soul,  to  be  able  to  impress  upon 
large  bodies  of  leading  minds,  whether  in  the  State  or  in  the 


90  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Church,  the  principles,  sentiments,  activities,  which  carry  on 
the  progress  of  society  in  virtue  and  wisdom,  and  thus  do 

God's  work  in  the  world.  It  is  this  posthumous  life  of  iu- 
flut:  .  ading  out  into  far-reaching  and  remote  results, 
brief  time  on  the  earth  is  past,  which,  after 
all,  is  the  true  measure  of  human  greatness.  How  paltry  in 
comparison  are  the  glittering  prizes  in  pursuit  of  which  most 

waste  life's  energies  and  dwarf  it.-  powers! 
Of  the  rank,  I  .  emoluments  of  Methodist  Bishops* 

licate  little  or  nothing.  No  gorgeous  rites,  no 
imposing  array  of  ecclesiastical  pomp  and  circumstance,  no 
splendid  vestments,  no  pealing  T\  Datm  Laudamua  swelling 
through  the  Long-drawn  aisles  of  some  noble  cathedral, 
mark  the  investiture  of  the  Kpiscopal  office.  They  are  no 
|      PS  of  the  realm  afterwards;  no  palace  opens  its  portals  to 

. :  no  rich  preferments  are  iii  their  gift.     They  claim  not 

retension  of  a  de  jure  Divino  Episcopacy,  with  a 

celestial   patent,  wrapped  up,  as  Coleridge   somewhere   ax* 

•  in  the  womb  of  this  or  that  text  of  Scripture,  to 

be  exforcipated  by  the  logico-obstetric  skill  of  high-church 

doctors."    They  trace  the  origin  of  their  Episcopal  office  to 

founder  of  the  Methodist  societies,  who,  so  far  as  ex- 
ternal platform  and  polity  were  concerned,  had  the  right, 
from  his  relation  to  these  societies,  to  form  them,  when  their 

Vth  demanded  it,  and  the  political  ties  of  the  American 
colonies  to  the  mother-country  were  severed,  into  a  Church 
Organization  by  ordaining  Bishops  I'm]-  them.  Strong  and 
clear  in  their  de  jure  humano  claim,  they  troubled  themselves 
no  more  about  apostolico-succession  theories  or  figments  of 
transmitted  sacerdotal  grace,  than  did  the  patriots  of  the 
American  Revolution  about  the  Divine  right  of  kings.  They 
■     ■  e  Protestants.     They  held  that  it  is  the  Holy  Ghost  who 


WILLIAM    CAPERS.  91 

gives  to  the  Church,  overseers — Bishops :  that  he  alone  holds 
the  prerogative  of  calling  ministers  to  the  holy  office,  as  he 
alone  quickens  the  souls  of  men :  that  he  gives  the  inward 
endowment  by  which,  only,  true  ministers  are  made,  the  exist- 
ing body  of  ministers  conferring  nothing  beyond  the  outward 
commission.  This  was  their  ground,  irrefragable  as  the  JSTew 
-^Testament,  solid  as  common  sense. 

This  Methodist  Episcopacy  entailed  long  journeys,  pro- 
tracted absences  from  home,  arduous  labors,  and  responsibili- 
ties no  less  arduous.  Some  of  the  Bishops,  in  the  heroic 
age,  rode  round  the  North  American  Continent  repeatedly 
on  horseback — the  saddle  sometimes  their  pillow,  and  the 
midnight  sky  and  the  silent  stars  their  canopy.  The  sum- 
mer's sun  and  the  winter's  cold,  the  dreary  forest,  the  swollen 
river,  the  rugged  mountain,  and  the  savage  and  wily  Indian ; 
hunger,  thirst,  weariness — these  were  no  impediments  in 
their  way.  They  braved  all  these  in  their  truly  apostolic 
work  of  carrying  the  evangel  of  Jesus  Christ  over  these 
lands,  and  in  the  van  of  an  early  civilization.  But  what 
then?  These  holy,  self-sacrificing  men,  worthy  successors 
of  the  apostles,  were  the  chief  ministers  of  a  Christian  com- 
munity then  in  its  infancy,  but  whose  churches  are  now 
planted  from  the  Canadas  to  the  Mexican  Gulf,  from  the  At- 
lantic slope  through  the  gates  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  to 
the  shores  of  the  Western  Ocean.  They  wore  no  mitres, 
kept  no  state,  despised  the  mere  badges  and  trappings  of 
ecclesiastical  dignities,  and  received  no  pay  from  the  State, 
no  remittances  from  any  English  propaganda.  But  they 
wielded  the  grand  and  mighty  powers  of  an  influence  sancti- 
fied by  God's  grace  to  the  largest  good  of  their  fellow-men ; 
of  a  courage  and  patience,  of  a  wisdom  and  love  which 
swelled  fresh  and  glorious  in  holy  exertion,  and  are  worthy 


92  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

of  the  brightest  page  iu  their  country's  history ;  of  a  daunt- 
less enterprise  and  varied  adventure  in  directing  the  move- 
ments and  preserving  the  unity  of  a  young  and  vigorous 
organization  destined  to  strike  its  roots  deep  throughout  the 
nation;  and  which  in  time  was  to  build  its  colleges  and 
universities,  ereet  its  printing-houses  and  presses,  collect  its 
missionary  revenue  by  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars, 
year  by  year,  Bend  out  its  missionary  preachers  to  the  an- 
tipodes, and  make  its  influence  felt  over  the  earth,  and  to 
the  end  of  time — 

••  Its  flag  on  every  height  unfurled, 
Its  morning  drum  beat  round  the  world  !" 

I  call  that  man  great  who  worthily  bore  his  part  in  a 
scheme  of  operations  vast  as  this.  I  honor  the  names  of 
Francis  Asbnry,  William  McKendree,  Joshua  Soule.  Pos- 
terity will  hold  them  in  ever-increasing  veneration.  Among 
these  "bright,  immortal  names"  will  stand  that  of  "William 
Caim:     . 


*t 


HENRY    B.    BASCOM.  93 


HENRY  B.  BASCOM. 

BY    WILLIAM    M.    WIGHTMAN,    D.  D. 

Great  men  are  rare.  They  die,  as  do  common  men,  hav- 
ing .served  the  State  during  their  lifetime,  or  adorned  the 
Church  by  the  lustre  of  their  genius  and  the  mighty  influ- 
ence of  their  character  and  labors.  But  though  they  thus 
pass  away,  they  ought  not  to  be  forgotten.     Theirs  are  the 

"  deeds  •which  should  not  pass  away, 


And  names  that  must  not  wither,  though  the  earth 
Forgets  her  empires." 

History — biography  delights  to  treasure  up  the  memorials 
of  their  virtues  and  talents ;  and  thus  their  posthumous  in- 
fluence reaches  through  all  time.  The  more  minute,  indivi- 
dualized, and  lifelike  we  can  make  the  portraits  of  such 
men,  the  better  will  after-comers  in  distant  generations  be 
able  to  conceive  of  their  characters,  and  to  feel  the  ennobling 
influence  of  their  worth. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  possesses  the  materials 
for  a  rich  portrait-gallery  of  this  kind ;  though  it  must  be 
confessed  that  not  a  few  of  her  worthiest  sons,  who  would 
have  been  a  delightful  study  for  the  moral  portrait-painter, 
survive  only  in  lingering  and  fading  traditions.     Many  of 


94  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

these  men  were  giants  in  their  day.  They  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  the  largest  Protestant  Church  in  the  United  States. 
They  were  gifted  with  an  ample  variety  of  endowments,  and 
exhibited  strong  and  distinguishing  peculiarities  of  character; 
and  their  "times"  were  rich  in  incident.  How  full  of  touch- 
ing interest  would  be  even  a  Bketch  of  Buch  persons! — a 
sketch  that  would  bring  out  the  man,  fresh,  clear,  distinct, 
with  the  warm  life-blood  walking  its  rounds,  and  the  mental 
Bharply  defined.  But,  like  the  brave  men  who 
lived  before  Agamcmuon,  referred  to  by  Horace, 

"  Longa  prcmuntur 
Nocte,  carent  quia  vate  sacro." 

The  humblest  contribution  of  this  kind  cannot  fail  to  be 
acceptable.  And  while  the  present  writer  does  not  allow 
himself  the  i  fcion  of  doing  full  justice  to  the  fair  fame 

of  one  of  his  illustrious  contemporaries,  with  whose  friend- 
ship while  living  he  was  honored,  and  whose  death  was  by 
none  more  lane  tribute  to  the  memory  of  his 

friend,  and  an  expression  of  the  gratitude  felt  by  him,  in 
common  with  the  whole  Southern  Methodist  Church,  for  the 
distinguished  services  rendered  by  Bishop  B  .  he  em- 

bodies in  the  follow!  his  impressions  of  the  preacher 

and  the  man. 

Henry  B.  Baecom  was  born  May  27,  IT!"'',  in  the  State  of 
York  In  1811,  he  was  converted  to  God;  and  in  1812, 
he  was  admitted  on  trial  as  a  travelling  preacher  in  the  Ohio 
Conference.  lie  died  in  the  autumn  of  1850,  in  Louisville, 
Ky.,  at  the  house  of  his  friend,  the  Rev.  I>r.  Stevenson, 
ween  these  two  points  of  time  intervene. 1  a  public  life 
crowded  with  cares,  labors,  responsibilities,  honors  and  dig- 
nities, such  as  have  fallen  to  the  lot  of  few  men. 


HENRY    B.     BASCOM.  95 

The  story  of  his  youthful  struggles,  beset  with  poverty, 
misunderstood  by  friends,  grappling  manfully  with  difficul- 
ties in  the  process  of  self-education,  riding  hard  circuits  on 
the  outposts  of  civilization,  his  pay  a  dollar  a  month  for  four 
hundred  sermons  and  three  thousand  miles  travelled  on 
horseback,  during  one  of  these  early  years,  and  yet  indomi- 
tably girding  on  the  armor  by  which  the  battle  of  life  and 
the  highest  distinctions  of  usefulness  and  greatness  were  to 
be  won — all  this  surpasses  a  romance  in  thrilling  interest. 
Next  in  intensity  to  his  religious  affections  is  his  filial  piety, 
a  trait  most  remarkably  developed  in  his  character,  reaching 
even  to  the  moral  sublime.  Let  the  young  preachers  of  the 
present  time  study  the  pages  of  his  biography,  and  learn  how 
Providence  trains  in  hardships  and  sufferings  those  for  whom 
a  preeminent  lot  in  after-life  is  destined.  Little  did  that 
poor  lad,  among  all  the  young  dreams  which  flitted  across 
his  soul  in  the  hour  of  re  very  in  the  primeval  solitudes  of 
the  great  "West,  imagine  that  he  was  to  become  one  of  the 
ablest  counsellors  and  most  eminent  leaders  of  the  Church ; 
to  preach  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed  God  before 
Senates,  as  well  as  to  masses  of  his  countrymen  counted  by 
thousands ;  to  be  invested  with  the  highest  ecclesiastical  dig- 
nities, win  a  name  mentioned  with  respect  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific,  and  die  lamented  by  a  whole  Church  ! 

Let  us  look  at  him  as  a  preacher,  in  the  maturity  of  his 
great  powers.  There  is  no  doubting  the  fact  that  he  pos- 
sessed the  rarest  aptitude  for  impressing  a  popular  assembly ; 
that  his  preaching  made  the  pulpit  a  secret  place  of  thunder, 
vindicated  its  ancient  claim  to  a  station  among  the  most 
powerful  institutions  which  exalt  and  ennoble  a  people,  and 
covered  it  with  trophies  resplendent  as  virtue,  venerable  as 
goodness,  and  precious   as  the  hopes  of  immortality.     In 


96  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

what  did  his  great  strength  lie  ?  What  were  the  peculiarities 
of  his  pulpit  eloquence  1  Were  there  any  defects  amongst 
its  excellences?  lie  has  left  a  volume  of  sermons  which  has 
had  a  wider  circulation  perhaps  than  any  similar  volume 
published  in  this  country.  Are  these  pulpit  orations  perfect 
in  their  kind,  or  are  they  open  to  criticism  as  to  structure 
and  sty] 

T<>  begin  with  this  last  question,  it  must  be  premised  that 
there  are  important  differences  between  the  extemporaneous 
address  intended  for  the  ear  of  a  popular  assembly,  and  the 
Written  composition  which  addre.-ses  the  mind  through  the 
medium  of  the  eye.  In  the  latter  ease,  condensation,  sim- 
plicity, abstinence  from  ornament,  or  at  least  a  judicious  re- 
serve in  the  OSS  of  it,  attest  the  perfection  of  art  in  composi- 
tion. On  the  other  hand,  the  address  which  comes  from  the 
livi:  .  the  progeny  it  may  he  of  deep  previous  reflec- 

tion, but  thrown  off  at  the  moment  in  the  clothing  of  extem- 
poraneous utterance,  and  meant  not  so  much  to  gratify  the 
scholarly  tastes  of  the  man  of  letters  as  to  move  and  per- 
suade the  multitude,  this  allows  at  one  time  a  colloquial 
lom,  at  another  an  imperial  sweep  of  imagination — a 
language  free  from  the  trammels  of  exact  composition,  and 
an  abandon  in  keeping  with  the  swell  and  flow  of  emotion  on 
the  part  of  the  audience.  The  elegant  accuracy,  the  well- 
poised  antithesis,  the  polished  diction  which  shows  the  lahor 
of  file  and  lamp,  are  all  well  enough  in  the  literary  essay. 
The  oratory  of  the  pulpit  in  its  highest  moods,  and  in  pur- 
suance of  its  grand  end,  the  arrest,  persuasion,  and  conver- 
sion of  men,  rushes  forward  under  the  pressure  of  mighty 
thoughts  and  glowing  passion;  makes  its  energy  felt  in  ac- 
cumulated illustrations  which  depict  rather  than  discuss;  and 
at  the  full  thunder  strikes  home  to  the  heart.    Even  in  foren- 


HENRY    B.    BASCOM.  97 

sic  eloquence  this  distinction  holds  good.  "  Did  the  speech 
read  well  when  reported?"  asked  Charles  James  Fox,  one  of 
the  greatest  orators  who  ever  spoke  in  the  British  Senate ; 
"if  so,  it  was  a  bad  one." 

Besides,  the  mere  reader  misses  the  world  of  influence 
originating  in  the  oratory  of  manner.  One  reads  a  sermon 
of  Summerfield's  coolly  enough ;  but  could  he  have  heard  it 
unmoved  ?  when  the  very  tones  of  the  voice  were  like  the 
murmuring  breezes  blown  from  "the  spice-islands  of  youth 
and  love."  Dean  Kirwan,  an  Irish  clergyman,  is  said  to  have 
been  one  of  the  greatest  orators  that  ever  filled  a  pulpit. 
The  celebrated  Grattan  once  remarked  of  him,  that  "he 
came  to  interrupt  the  repose  of  the  pulpit,  and  shake  one 
world  with  the  thunders  of  another :  the  preacher's  desk  be- 
came a  throne  of  light — around  him  a  train  not  such  as 
crouch  and  stagger  at  the  levee  of  viceroys,  but  that  where- 
with a  great  genius  peoples  his  own  state — charity  in  ecstasy 
and  vice  in  humiliation."  And  yet,  when  his  friends  after 
his  death  published  a  volume  of  his  sermons,  they  were 
scarcely  readable ! 

Dr.  Bascom  seems  to  have  been  well  aware  of  the  distinc- 
tion here  referred  to.  He  states  in  the  preface  that  the  ser- 
mons are  published  as  they  were  originally  preached ;  that 
they  were  never  intended  to  be  judged  by  the  ordinary  tests 
of  composition  and  authorship ;  and  that  the  writer  is  essen- 
tially merged  in  the  preacher.  In  the  preparation  of  them, 
he  adds,  the  main  object  was  to  give  form  and  voice  to  the 
thoughts  and  impressions,  the  convictions  and  feelings,  of 
the  preacher,  in  a  way  best  adapted  to  arrest  and  impress  the 
hearer. 

"Without  intending  to  subject  these  sermons  to  an  ordeal 
deprecated  by  the  author,  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  ad- 
7 


98  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

vert  to  one  or  two  particulars  in  which  they  seem  defective* 
and  in  reference  to  which  :i  caution  may  be,  with  advantage, 
'1  to  young  preachers  who  seek  the  best  models. 
1.  The  great  merit  of  all  discourse  is  method,    The  philo- 
sophical idea  "t'  method  combines  progression  with  unity. 

Unity  implies  that   there   is  one  main   Leading  subject  taken 

in  Land,  to  be  explained  and  enforce.]:   progression  or  dis- 

tion  18  the  development  of  this  subject — the  presentation 

of  its  relations  or  qualiti  thonghl  generating  another, 

and  by  vital  affinities,  either  of  logic,  illustration,  <>r  passion, 

justifying  the  place  where  it  is  put.  There  may  he  move- 
ment without  progression,  as  in  a  -hip  beating  <>n  and  off 
without  being  able  to  keep  her  true  course.     There  may  be 

imnlation  of  ideas  without  organic  unity,  as  in  the 
of  marble-   touching  each   other  in   a  bag,  or  beads   strung 
•her  on   the  same  thread  ;    or  as  a   rabble  stands  distin- 
bed    from   an   army.     Growth   and    evolution,  not   mere 
egation,   represent  the  combination  of  unity  and    pro- 
ion.     Thus,  without  any  forced  transitions,  the  natural 
Beqnence  of  the  discourse  goes  forward,  and  the  requirements 
of  just  proportion  in  the  parts  are  observed. 

Yinet  illustrates  the  importance  of  method  in  a  fine  re- 
mark or  two,  which  I  am  tempted  to  repeat.  He  is  speaking 
of  a  preacher  who  has  neglected  the  great  law  of  order. 
"Conceive,"  he  says,  "yourself  in  the  situation  I  Bnp] 
You  proceed  at  hazard,  and  as  groping  in  the  dark,  by  turns 
advancing  and  receding;  the  thread  you  have  hold  of  is 
broken  at  every  instant,  and  requires  incessantly  to  be  re- 
tied.  Instead  of  completing  the  presentation  of  an  idea  at 
the  first,  after  having  presented  it  imperfectly  once,  you  pre- 
sent it  a  second  time  still  imperfectly;  you  have  many 
abnoste,  many  fractions  of  which   the   sum   remains   to   be 


HENRY    B.BASCOM.  99 

taken.  You  have  skirmished  on  all  sides  of  the  place,  one 
after  another ;  made  false  attacks  which  terminate  nothing. 
One  idea  does  not  presuppose  another;  in  what  you  have, 
you  have  no  guaranty  as  to  what  is  to  come,  the  passages 
(hadly  named,  surely !)  follow  one  another,  but  are  not  con- 
nected ;  as  idlers  who  live  by  the  day,  you  write  by  the  sen- 
tence, not  more  sure  of  the  second  after  the  first,  than  they 
as  to  provision  for  to-morrow." 

Now,  to  some  extent,  it  seems  to  me,  Dr.  Bascom's  ser- 
mons are  defective  as  to  method.  I  incline  to  attribute  this 
to  his  using  too  many  subdivisions.  A  careful  examination 
will  show  that  these  subdivisions  only  serve  to  break  the 
continuity  of  thought,  and  interfere  with  the  grand  totality 
of  impression  sought  to  be  made.  They  have  the  effect  of 
rays  passing  from  the  surface  of  a  plane  mirror  in  parallel 
lines,  whereas  the  mirror  ought  to  be  concave,  bringing,  in 
converging  lines  and  concentrated  power,  the  force  of  each 
leading  division  of  the  subject  into  one  intense  focus.  Con- 
sidering the  logical  power  of  Bascom's  mind,  and  his  capa- 
bility for  severe  argument  exemplified  in  documents  which 
will  be  a  study  for  future  historians  of  the  Church,  it  might 
have  been  expected  that  his  sermons  would  partake  very 
much  of  such  a  type.  One  might  have  looked  for  great 
masses  of  thought,  bound  together  by  few  but  vital  affinities, 
and  swung  by  a  giant  force.  His  method  is  otherwise,  how- 
ever. For  this  we  may  account  by  the  circumstances  of  his 
self-education,  his  want  of  early,  liberal,  and  complete  scho- 
lastic training :  in  fine,  by  the  fact  upon  which  he  lays  con- 
siderable stress  himself,  that  the  nucleus  forms  of  these 
sermons  were  produced  many  years  before  he  reached  the 
full  strength  of  his  intellectual  powers ;  and  were  expanded 
and  added  to,  as  they  were  preached,  again  and  again.    Such 


100  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

a  process  could  not  fail  to  result  in  a  somewhat  defective 
unity.  A  sermon,  we  take  it,  to  reach  the  maximum  force 
of  irnpressiveness,  ought  to  be  cast  in  a  single  mould,  from 
the  mind's  furnace  glowing  with  the  excitement  and  inspira- 
tion of  a  great  subject,  meditated  upon  in  its  relations  and 
hearings,  until  the  "thought -agglomerating  flood"  rushes 
out  int<»  tli.*  form  ami  body  in  which  it  is  to  be  permanent. 
The  hlent  powers  of  reason  and  passion,  with 

41  Imagination  all  compact," 

assume,  of  their  own  accord,  the  disposition — method — so 
vitally  necessary  to  a  full  impression. 

2.  After  making  due  allowance  for  the  difference  between 
written  ami  extemporaneous  discourse,  it  Beems  to  me  that 
in  point  of  style  Dr.  i  chibit  an  exuberance 

of  Ornament.  In  an  artistic  point  of  view,  this  is  certainly  a 
Style,  like  fine  painting,  ought  to  have  a  hack- 
ground — shade  as  well  as  light — dark  as  well  as  bright  colors. 
In  the  fmc  arts,  this  La  called  relief.  Every  one  sees  how 
y  to  the  perfection  of  a  picture  is  the  observance  of 
the  principle-  ••!'  perspective.  Not  Less  needful  is  the  study 
and  art  of  relief  in  moral  painting.  To  give  effect  to  the 
line  •  he  ;i  background.    Without  affirm- 

ing thai  a  Bermon  ought  in  any  part  to  affect  a  conversational 
undress,  it  i-  nevertheless  obvious  that  some  portions  of  it 
must  he  intended  for  greater  effect  than  others:   some  \ 

a  must  he  more  striking,  other-  Less.  To  rise  to  the 
pitch  of  tie"  Bublime  too  soon  or  too  frequently,  is  to  undo 
■t  hy  overdoing.  Language  may  become  dangerously 
powerful.  Dr.  Olin  had  the  opportunity  of  hearing  Bas- 
com  only  a  single  time;  and  his  remark  to  me  a  few  hours 
afterward  was,  that  while  he  admired  the  wonderful  opulence 


HENRY    B.     BASCOM.  101 

of  Dr.  Bascom's  resources,  he  thought  that  the  effect  would 
have  been  far  greater  if  the  sermon  had  contained  a  third 
less  of  accumulated  thought  and  brilliant  imagery.  He  con- 
sidered that  the  mind  of  the  listener  was  likely  to  be  over- 
whelmed by  the  excess  of  the  profound  and  vivid,  in  such 
pulpit  manifestations,  to  the  detriment  of  the  main  ultimate 
impression  sought  to  be  made. 

3.  The  reader  of  these  sermons  will  be  struck  with  the 
liberty  taken  to  coin  new  words.  They  were  doubtless  used, 
if  not  formed  by  this  master  of  pulpit  eloquence,  in  his 
youth,  on  the  mistaken  supposition  that  they  were  stronger 
or  more  picturesque  than  words  found  in  that  great  "well 
of  English  undefiled,"  King  James's  Bible.  These  corrup- 
tions of  the  English  idiom  remind  one  of  Julius  Caesar's 
golden  rule,  given  to  the  Roman  orators :  "  Ut  tanquam 
scopulum  sic  fugias  insolens  verbum."  It  was  a  saying  of  Mr. 
Fox :  "  Give  me  an  elegant  Latin  and  a  homely  Saxon  word, 
and  I  will  always  choose  the  latter."  It  is  certain  he  never 
used  any  of  the  hybrid  terms  which  are  becoming  too  com- 
mon, neither  fish  nor  flesh,  Latin  nor  Saxon,  but  for  the  most 
part  the  spawn  of  Yankee  provincialism. 

The  foregoing  criticism,  if  it  answers  no  other  purpose, 
will  show  at  least  that  the  respect  and  admiration  felt  by  the 
writer  for  the  mental  manifestations  of  Br.  Bascom  is  not  a 
partiality  blind  to  all  just  discriminations.  The  reputation 
of  this  distinguished  man  rests  upon  a  basis  sufficiently 
broad  to  allow  whatever  of  abatement  a  candid  judgment 
may  deem  necessary  on  grounds  just  specified.  There  are 
defects  in  the  heel  of  the  Farnesian  Jove.  A  fair  apprecia- 
tion of  his  eminent  qualities  must  place  him  in  the  front 
rank  of  great  preachers.  For  the  masses  of  his  countrymen, 
who  heard  him  in  nearly  every  part  of  the  United  States,  he 


102  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

stood  forth  as  the  most  popular  and  powerful  of  American 
pulnit  orators. 

Marvellous  things  are  told  of  his  preaching,  in  the  Hush 
of  its  manly  prime:  how,  on  one  occasion,  a  whole  congre* 
gatdon  rose  up,  apparently  unconscious,  and  pressed  toward 
the  pulpit,  absorbed  in  strong  emotion:  how,  on  another,  a 
camp-meeting  Bermon,  al  eleven  o'clock  A.M.,  produced 
su«-!  thai  there  could  be  no  more  preaching  until  the 

n. 'xt  day:  how  he  assaulted  and  Btormed  the  strongholds  of 
infidelity;  and  by  the  power  of  Divine  truth  brought  multi- 
tudes of  sinners  to  repentance.  I  witnessed  myself  a  re- 
markable  scene  in  the  Tabernacle  at  New  V«>rk,  in  is  11. 
1  r •  ■  preached  al  night;  and  Long  before  sunset,  crowds  i 
pouring  into  the  immense  church,  which,  by  the  time  it  was 
dark,  was  filled  by  as  compact  a  mass  of  human  beings  as 
was  ever  crowded  within  its  walls.  After  Binging,  and  an 
introductory  prayer  by  Dr.  Durbin,  Dr.  Bascom  delivered  a 
Bermon  which  produced  at  three  several  times  the  unpre* 
nted  effect  of  loud  and  apparently  irrepressible  applause ! 
It  was  the  strong  I  ever  witnessed  of  a  c  ation 

fairly  breaking  down  before  a  preacher. 

A  year  or  two  afterwards,  Dr.  Bascom  mentioned  to  me  in 
familiar  conversation  a  reminiscence  connected  with  his 
preaching  in  Baltimore.  A  venerable  Methodist  lady,  of 
great  piety  and  intelligence,  said  to  him  on  one  occasion: 
"Brother  Bascom,  I  have  heard  with  pleasure  many  of  your 
Bermons;  but  how  does  it  happen  that  nobody  l shouts' 
when  you  preach?"  "Madam,"  said  he,  "I  never  aimed  at 
Buch  a  result;  hut  I  cannot  tell  what  might  happen  with  a 
Buitable  subject."  The  conversation  led  him  to  prepare  a 
ion  on  the  text :  "  Hallelujah,  for  the  Lord  <J<-d  omnipo- 
tent  reignethl"     The  old  lady  was   present  at  its  delivery. 


HENRY    B.    BASCOM.  103 

Before  the  service  closed,  the  congregation  was  wrought  up 
to  a  pitch  of  excitement  so  intense,  that  whenever  the  preacher 
repeated  the  first  word  of  his  text,  a  thousand  voices  cried 
out  simultaneously,  "Hallelujah!"  and  "Hallelujah"  rang, 
and  rolled,  and  pealed,  at  the  close,  like  the  voice  of  many 
waters.  The  text  had  given  the  key-note  of  the  orthodox, 
old  Methodist  shout,  and  the  walls  of  the  church  shook  with 
the  Hallelujah-chorus.  His  venerable  friend  was  more  than 
satisfied  that  Dr.  Bascom's  preaching  could  raise  a  shout. 

In  Kentucky,  they  tell  of  the  effect  produced  on  Henry 
Clay  by  the  second  sermon  preached  by  Dr.  Bascom  at  Lex- 
ington. The  first  had  been  a  failure.  Mr.  Clay,  whose  guest 
Bascom  was,  had  engaged  him  in  conversation  up  to  the  time 
of  preaching,  and  he  was  not  in  tune.  At  his  next  visit,  he 
took  care  to  leave  Mr.  Clay's  house  soon  after  breakfast,  and 
retire  to  the  adjoining  woods,  for  prayer  and  meditation.  A 
large  congregation  had  assembled  at  the  Court-House,  and 
Mr.  Clay's  "greatest  natural  orator  of  the  American  pulpit" 
stood  before  them  to  preach  on  righteousness,  temperance, 
and  a  judgment  to  come.  The  full  inspiration  was  upon  him 
now.  His  daring  sweep  of  thought;  his  glowing  illustra- 
tions ;  his  impetuous  and  electric  declamation ;  his  searching 
appeals  to  the  conscience,  held  his  audience  spell -bound. 
Clay  was  listening  for  everybody;  and  at  length,  carried 
away  beyond  all  sense  of  the  proprieties  of  time  and  place, 
he  rose  up  and  gave  vent  to  his  excitement  by  crying  out : 
"Well  done,  Bascom  !  give  it  to  them — give  it  to  them  !" 

In  the  spring  of  1848,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  present 
at  an  interview  between  Mr.  Calhoun  and  Dr.  Bascom,  in 
Washington  City.  I  refer  to  this  merely  to  state  my  impres- 
sion, from  listening  to  an  hour's  conversation  between  these 
eminent  men,  that  Dr.  Bascom's  mind  moved  with  ease,  self- 


104  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

possession,  and  elegance,  in  contact  with  one  of  the  most 
peerless  intellects  of  the  time. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Dixon,  of  England,  during  his  visit,  the  same 
year,  to  America,  makes  the  following  mention  of  an  inter- 
view lie  had  with  Bascom:  "This  one  interview  was  suffi- 
cient to  convince  me  that  he  possessed  a  powerful  intellect, 
of  masculine  form,  richly  famished,  highly  polished,  and 
conversant  with  various  Learning  and  knowledge.  lie  Lad 
been  making  a  long  preaching  tour  in  the  South,  and  we 
heard  that  his  ministry  had  made  a  deep  impression.  This 
gentleman  is  considered  a  master  of  eloquence;  and  if  he 
drew  up  the  State -papers  which  appear  in  the  dispute  be- 
twixt the  South  and  the  North  in  1844 — which  I  believe — his 
pen  is  as  eloquent  as  his  tongue;  his  eloquence,  however, 
not  being  that  of  declamation,  but  of  reason,  and  clothed  in 
the  flowing  dress  of  lucid  and  beautiful  diction." 

If  I  were  asked  for  a  description  of  Bascom's  mind,  I 
should  say  in  one  word  that  its  distinguishing  feature  was 
magmfia moe.  Its  combination  of  elements,  and  its  amplitude 
of  capacity  and  intellectual  wealth,  suggest  to  the  fancy  the 
picture  of  some  spacious  oriental  palace,  glittering  with  all 
forms  of  elegance,  filled  with  diversified  treasures,  surrounded 
by  garden,  and  grove,  and  sparkling  fountain,  the  elaborations 
of  art,  and  the  "wild  loveliness"  of  nature.  He  bad  the 
conceptual  faculty  strong  and  vivid;  not  merely  as  it  stood 
related  to  the  material  world,  forming  combinations  rach  as 
poets  and  painters  deal  in,  but  as  it  grasped  the  spiritual  and 
eternal,  and  these  mainly  in  connection  with  the  moral  con- 
sciousness— that  indestructible  essence  in  our  nature,  beating 
alike  in  the  heart  of  the  masses  and  of  the  few  who  boast 
the  advantages  of  superior  culture. 

Imagination,  too — the  mediating  power  between  pure  rea- 


HENRY    B.    BASCOM.  105 

son  and  sense,  an  endowment  so  necessary  to  the  poet  and 
great  orator — was  his  in  a  preeminent  degree.  Fancy  is  to 
imagination  what  talent  is  to  genius.  The  former  may  he 
considered  the  descriptive,  the  latter  is  the  creative  power. 
Trained  in  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  Bascom's  early  life, 
amidst  the  primeval  forests  of  the  "West,  under  the  moun- 
tain's shadow,  by  the  side  of  river  and  waterfall,  from  na- 
ture's scenes  of  beauty  and  sublimity,  the  ever-living  sources 
of  inspiration,  the  imagination  grew  in  intensity  and  com- 
pass, and  furnished  him  the  noblest  representations  of  grace 
and  beauty,  of  lofty  sentiment  and  daring  power.  Thus, 
both  by  native  endowment  and  early  circumstances,  brought 
into  communion  with  nature  in  her  grandest  moods,  his 
mind  was  attracted  by  genial  sympathies  to  all  that  is  in- 
spiring in  the  Christian  revelation.  In  these  lofty  regions 
of  thought,  his  spirit  spread  an  unfettered  wing,  rising 
higher  than  the  "sphery  chime,"  approaching 

"  The  living  throne,  the  sapphire  blaze, 
Where  angels  tremble,  while  they  gaze." 

The  scheme  of  Redemption,  unfolding  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  Christ,  the  great  Propitiation  for  sin;  the  resur- 
rection of  the  Son  of  God,  the  Precursor  to  immortality  of 
faithful  souls ;  the  spread  and  final  triumphs  of  the  gospel ; 
the  processes  of  the  last  judgment — these  were  the  themes 
which  filled  his  mind  with  moral  grandeur,  and  exalted  and 
transported  his  imagination.  From  these— the  Cross  espe- 
cially and  by  eminence — his  pulpit  ministrations  took  their 
coloring.  But  if  the  drapery  of  the  imagination  was  gor- 
geous, beneath  the  brilliance  of  the  coloring  lay  a  moral  and 
intellectual  grandeur — the  piled  masses  of  the  mountain- 
range,  so  to  speak,  clothed  in  the  golden  and  purple  robes  of 


10G  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

morning  sunshine.  A  severe  taste  might  quarrel  with  the 
style  for  the  stately  tread  of  its  march,  and  the  pomp  of  its 
music  and  banners — if  there  were  not  discoverable  in  com- 
pany the  sinewy  strength  and  the  armed  and  winged  shafts 
that  alone  win  the  battle.  It  is,  indeed,  true  that  there  are 
'its  and  depths  of  glory  in  the  gospel  which  bathe  the 
capabilities  of  the  most  felicitous  language,  even  of  poetry; 
and  for  the  illustration  of  which  the  whole  force  of  thought 
interpenetrated  by  Imagination  is  all  too  poor.  In  the  elo- 
quent language  of  Donne:  "In  going  about  to  express  them, 
the  lips  of  an  angel  would  be  uiicircumeised  lips,  and  the 
tongue  of  an  archangel  would  stammer." 

The  capability  of  quick  and  intense  excitement  was  another 
very  marked  characteristic  of  Bascom'smind.  In  preaching, 
this  intensity  ^i'  feeling  fused  all  bis  powers  into  a  glowing 
vehemence.  He  once  told  me  he  had  never  preached,  eveD 
in  the  coldest  days  of  winter,  without  the  accompaniment  of 
profuse  perspiration.  On  one  occasion,  hie  excitement  before 
preaching  was  so  great,  that  in  attempting  to  read  the  first 
hymn,  the  hymn-book  actually  dropped  out  of  his  trembling 
hands.  It  was  picked,  up.  and  handed  back  to  him;  but  the 
subdued  smile  of  the  assembly,  occasioned  by  so  unusual  an 
incident,  drove  off  the  tremor,  and  made  his  nerves,  as  it 
were,  strings  of  steel.  Great  calmness  and  self- mastery, 
especially  in  the  earlier  portions  of  a  discourse,  would  seem 
to  have  been  more  befitting  the  possession  of  strength  such 
as  his.  I  have  heard  Dr.  Few — and  laudation  from  that 
quarter  is  indeed  laudari  a  laudato — describe  the  great  sermon 
preached  by  Bishop  Soule,  on  the  Perfect  Law  of  Liberty, 
before  the  South  Carolina  Conference  in  the  winter  of  1827. 
That  almost  unrivalled  effort  of  pulpit  eloquence  was  charac- 
terized, according  to  Dr.  Few,  by  a  calm,  deliberate  begin- 


HENRY    B.    BASCOM.  107 

ning — the  preacher  apparently  quite  self-possessed,  and  hus- 
banding breath  and  strength.  But  presently  he  warmed  with 
his  subject,  and  the  serene  majesty  of  the  commencement 
rose  into  a  loftier  interest  with  the  progress  of  the  argument, 
step  by  step.  Then,  fully  inspired  and  anointed,  thought, 
voice,  manner,  assumed  a  mood  of  grandeur  befitting  the 
highest  order  of  mind;  and  ere  the  sermon  ended,  every 
thing  was  swept  before  it,  as  with  the  rush  of  a  land-slide. 

This  would  seem  to  be  the  highest  model  of  effective  pul- 
pit oratory.  Dr.  Bascom  possessed  too  much  of  the  vis  vividay 
the  intense  excitability  of  genius,  to  keep  his  mind  in  quiet 
working  order  for  a  time.  The  steam,  so  to  speak,  was  at  its 
maximum  pressure  from  the  first  movement  of  the  machinery. 
He  flung  himself  with  full  strength  into  the  first  sentence  of 
his  discourse.  This  mighty  earnestness  went  far  to  neutralize 
the  effect  of  redundant  ornament.  You  felt  at  once  that  no 
man  so  thoroughly  pervaded  by  vital  passion  could  possibly 
use  fine  figures  and  rich  imagery  merely  for  show.  Thus  he 
was  put  beyond  the  suspicion  of  dealing  in  the  mere  decla- 
mations of  the  rhetorician. 

In  fine,  one  must  not  lose  sight  of  the  personnel  in  account- 
ing for  the  celebrity  and  success  of  Dr.  Bascom's  preaching. 
When  he  rose  in  the  pulpit,  you  had  before  you  one  of  the 
model  specimens  of  perfect,  I  might  say  majestic  manhood. 
Upon  him  nature  had  impressed  the  visible  signatures  of 
eminence,  the  patent  of  true  nobility.  His  appearance  would 
have  been  distinguished  among  kings  and  princes.  His 
stature  was  about  six  feet:  he  carried  himself  perfectly 
erect;  and  so  symmetrical  was  his  form  that  it  set  off  his 
dress,  no  matter  of  what  quality,  cut,  or  style.  The  disap- 
pointment of  his  old  Methodist  friend,  who,  to  get  rid  of 
Bascom's  stylish  appearance,  rigged  him  out  in  an  orthodox 


108  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

round-breasted  coat,  aud  found  that  it  served  to  make  that 
appearance  only  the  more  dutingui,  is  graphically  told  by  his 
biographer.  When  the  old  gentleman  wanted  to  get  the 
"dandy"  coat  off,  Bascom  said  to  him,  "You  have  given  me 
the  coat,  and  I  shall  wear  it,  and  especially  as  you  seemed  to 
think  that  I  was  too  proud  to  wear  a  coat  cut  in  the  fashion 
of  the  last  century."  His  hair  was  black,  and  rather  thin: 
his   eye  was   also   black,  and  beamed  keen  with   sentiment. 

His  forehead  resembled  that  of  Daniel  Webster  in  Lofty  ex- 
pansion: it  seemed  the  very  throne  of  intellect.  The  lips 
were  thin,  and  in  connection  with  the  chin  indicated  great 
firmness  and  decision  of  character.  The  general  east  of  Ids 
countenance  approached  a  calm  sternness;  but  when  unbent 
in  familiar  conversation,  his  features  became  tonchingly  fine. 
His  voice  of  late  years,  after  the  affection  of  his  throat,  was 
somewhat  husky,  but  it  left  sharp  and  distinct  upon  the  ear 
the  rapid  words  which  clothed  his  ideas.  At  its  best,  it  must 
have  possessed  an  untold  power  of  impression,  and  sounded 
with  the  ring  of  a  "clear,  uplifted  trumpet."  One  of  Ins 
hearers  spoke  of  it  as  "articulate  thunder."  His  gesticula- 
tion was  natural,  evidently  unstudied,  and  prompted  by  the 
emotion  of  the  moment.  It  was  none  the  less  telling  on  that 
account.  Obviously,  it  was  his  wont  to  throw  himself  upon 
the  rushing  stream  of  passion,  without  thinking  at  all  of 
gesture,  voice,  or  manner. 

Turning  from  what  may  be  called  the  human  side  of  his 
character — the  intellectual  endowments,  the  emotional  depth 
of  his  nature  —  to  the  Divine  side  —  the  personal  faith  in 
Christ;  the  sanctifying  communion  with  God  by  the  B 
of  "the  Spirit  of  promise;"  the  controlling  sense  of  duty, 
and  the  firm  trust  in  Providence — here  we  find  at  last  his 
highest  distinctions.     "It  is  well  said,  in  every  sense,"  re- 


HENRY    B.     BASCOM.  109 

marks  Carlyle  in  his  "Hero- Worship, "  "that  a  man's  religion 
is  the  chief  fact  with  regard  to  him."  Far  above  the  emi- 
nence of  the  intellectnalist  and  the  laurelled  glory  of  the 
great  orator,  shines  the  beauty  of  holiness.  Apart  from  gen- 
uine Christian  excellence,  all  gifts,  endowments,  successes, 
are,  after  all,  but  the  "sounding  brass  and  tinkling  cymbal." 
Now,  if  we  go  to  the  essence  of  the  matter — the  main  thing 
a  man  believes  and  practically  lays  to  heart,  concerning  his 
duty  to  God  and  his  destiny  in  eternity — there  can  be  but 
one  opinion  in  the  case  before  us.  Dr.  Bascom  was  genuinely 
converted  and  made  a  public  profession  of  his  faith  in  Christ 
when  young ;  maintained  that  faith  and  profession  through 
life,  under  the  application  of  the  two  severest  tests — persecu- 
tion in  youth  and  immense  popularity  in  mature  life;  and 
died  with  the  full  trust  of  his  heart  in  "Almighty  Goodness, 
as  revealed  in  the  Cross  of  Christ."  In  his  youth,  he  differed 
from  some  of  his  clerical  brethren  in  some  of  the  stereotyped 
peculiarities  of  the  dress  and  manners  of  the  time.  They 
were  anxious  to  get  rid  of  him.  "  Give  me  that  boy,"  said 
Bishop  Asbury,  who  was  never  deceived  in  his  judgment  of 
the  moral  worth  of  a  man :  "  Give  me  that  boy — I  will  be  re- 
sponsible for  him."  The  closing  epoch  of  his  life,  his  conse- 
cration to  the  Episcopal  office,  was  the  latest  endorsement  of 
Asbury's  successors. 

What  Dr.  Bascom's  views  were  of  the  indispensable  im- 
portance of  personal  religion,  cannot  better  be  shown  than 
in  his  own  words :  "  The  tendency  of  modern  times  to  asso- 
ciation, to  merge  the  individual  in  the  mass,  to  render  even 
piety  ah  impersonal  affair,  and  find  in  the  Church  what  can- 
not be  found  in  the  persons  composing  it,  to  transform  the 
Church  into  a  huge  organism,  with  mystic  corporate  rights, 
claims,  and  potency,  in  no  way  traceable  to  the  personal  re- 


110  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

lations  or  virtues  of  its  individual  members,  lias  to  a  great 
extent  destroyed  its  true  scriptural  character  in  this  respect. 
Formerly,  men  gave  character  to  the  Church;  now,  the 
Church  gives  character  to  men.  Time  was  when  the  religion 
of  the  Church  was  tested  by  the  personal  worth  of  those  con- 
stituting its  fellowship;  now,  in  the  majority  of  install 
the  Church  is  viewed  as  an  impersonal  something,  an  in- 
tangible abstraction,  an  ideal  entity,  with  right,  power,  and 
claim,  growing  out  of  the  fiction  of  mere  conventional  unity, 
without  reference  to  the  personal  faith  and  obedience  required 
by  Christianity  as  essential  to  the  very  idea  of  a  Church  of 
Christ.  This  most  unscriptural,  anti-Christian  dogma  is,  in 
our  judgment,  working  infinite  mischief  to  the  real  practical 
interests  of  Christianity.  It  is  calling  otl"  attention  from  the 
only  virtues  and  course  of  conduct  on  the  part  of  individual 
man  which  can  possibly  authorize  his  connection  with  a 
Christian  Church,  and  which,  if  not  predicable  of  the  indivi- 
duals composing  a  Church,  must  leave  such  Church  without 
any  claim  to  Christian  character  whatever." 

To  the  Church — to  the  highest  interests  of  what  he  con- 
ceived to  be  the  cause  of  Christ  in  the  world — Dr.  Bascom 
devoted  his  enthusiasm,  his  energies,  and  activities.  He  did 
this  without  reserve,  without  pause,  and  not  without  str 
temptations  from  the  highest  worldly  inducements,  in  an  op- 
posite direction.  "Poor  and  embarrassed  as  I  am,"  he  wrote 
to  a  brother  minister,  who,  under  the  stress  of  narrow  cir- 
cumstances, was  looking  to  the  profession  of  the  law,  "I  am 
resolved  to  have  no  client  but  Him  who  at  first  employed  me 
to  plead  the  great  cause  of  human  salvation;  and  I  know 
my  fee  will  be  certain  and  large."  "What  things  were  gain 
to  him,  those  he  counted  loss  for  Christ.  Faithfully,  bravely, 
and  to  the  end,  he  stood  by  his  early  convictions  a-  a  Method- 


HENRY    B.     BASCOM.  Ill 

ist  minister.  He  made  no  compromises  of  character  or  con- 
sistency ;  and  having  been  the  instrument  in  God's  hand  of 
conferring  upon  society  untold  benefits,  by  a  long  and  labor- 
ious life,  he  died  leaving  to  his  children  not  a  dollar  ! 

If  the  foregoing  outline  of  the  mental  and  moral  charac- 
teristics of  Dr.  Basconi  approaches  to  a  faithful  delineation 
of  the  man,  it  will  be  apparent  that  he  possessed  the  main 
element  which  enters  into  a  just  conception  of  greatness — as 
one  of  the  profoundest  thinkers  of  the  time,  Isaac  Taylor, 
has  defined  it — the  ennobling  inspiration  springing  from  the 
sensibility  of  the  soul  toward  beauty  and  sublimity  in  the 
natural  and  in  the  moral  world.  In  some  gifted  minds,  this 
inspiration  tends  to  a  meditative  seclusion  from  the  current 
of  ordinary  affairs.  They  seem  to  lack  the  practical  element. 
Thus  it  has  been  said  of  Coleridge,  that  "he  talked  like  an 
angel,  and  did  nothing  at  all."  In  the  case  of  Dr.  Bascom, 
however,  it  may  be  emphatically  remarked  that  he  was  a 
man  of  affairs.  It  is  true  that  he  seldom  made  speeches,  and 
never  long  ones,  in  Annual  or  General  Conferences.  But  his 
interest  was  always  awake,  his  judgment  was  always  sound 
and  to  be  relied  on ;  and  when  an  emergency  required  it,  the 
force  of  his  superior  intellect  was  always  put  under  contribu- 
tion. He  had  the  far-seeing  views  of  a  statesman,  and  a 
nerve,  energy,  and  address,  in  keeping.  He  was  at  the  far- 
thest possible  remove  from  the  mere  dreamy  sentimentalist 
or  the  "fussy"  man  of  talk.  The  versatility  of  his  powers 
and  the  practical  bent  of  his  genius  are  illustrated  by  a  refer- 
ence to  the  prominent  part  he  took  in  the  most  important 
transition  known  to  American  Methodism — the  division  of 
the  Church.  It  is  not  saying  too  much  to  affirm  that  his 
adhesion  to  the  Southern  cause  was  the  crisis  of  a  great 
movement  which,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  has  given  peace 


112  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

and  the  promise  of  an  uninterrupted  progress  in  prosperity 
to  the  Southern  Annual  Conferences.  He  had  attended  the 
meetings  of  the  Southern  delegates  at  which  the  solemn 
question  of  separation  from  the  North  was  anxiously  debated. 
"With  keen  eye  but  elosed  lip,  he  had  watched  the  progress 
of  the  debate. 

"  Deep  on  hie  front  engraved, 
Deliberation  sat,  and  public  care." 

"When  the  moment  for  action  was  come,  he  rose  and  walked 
to  the  Chairman's  seat,  and  announced  that  he  was  prepared 
to  peril  all  upon  the  righteousness  of  the  movement,  and  to 
give  his  full  adhesion  and  support  to  the  Southern  cause. 
The  effect  was  electrical.  The  Western  delegations  imme- 
diately came  forward,  and  to  a  man  committed  themselves 
fully  to  the  same  cause.  The  battle  was  won.  By  acclama- 
tion, Dr.  Bascom  was  requested  to  draw  up  a  Protest  against 
the  offensive  action  of  the  majority  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence. The  masterly  paper  which  he  produced  in  a  short  time 
exhibited  his  vast  power  of  original  and  searching  analysis, 
and  hid  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  principles  of  constitu- 
tional law.  Its  chain  of  argumentation  is  so  cogent  and 
luminous,  that  Dr.  Dixon,  a  representative  of  the  British 
"Wesleyan  Church,  pronounced  it  "  one  of  the  most  powerful 
and  eloquent  State  documents  ever  put  into  the  hands  of  the 
reader."  The  part  taken  by  Dr.  Bascom  in  this  affair  cost 
him  the  loss  of  many  a  Xorthern  friend,  ami  exposed  him  to 
many  assaults  on  the  part  of  the  ^Northern  Methodist  pi 
but  it  establishes  a  claim  to  the  gratitude  and  affection  of 
Southern  hearts  which  no  lapse  of  time  can  weaken. 

Death  has  quenched  the  glance  of  that  flashing  eye,  and 
stilled  the  throb  of  that  mighty  heart,  and  turned  to  dust  that 
majestic  form.     lie  has  passed  away  to  take  on  immortality. 


ROBERT    L.    KENNON.  113 


KOBEET   L.    KENNOK. 

BY    BISHOP    ANDREW. 

To  preserve  a  suitable  memorial  of  the  great  and  good  is 
not  only  a  pleasant  task,  but  in  reference  to  those  who  by 
their  talents,  self-denial,  and  consecration  to  the  cause  of 
God  have  mightily  aided  in  the  permanent  establishment 
of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  in  any  section  of  the  work,  it 
seems  to  partake  somewhat  of  the  character  of  duty.  "We 
instinctively  turn  to  the  past  with  feelings  of  fond  venera- 
tion. The  names  and  deeds  of  those  who  aided  us  in  our 
religious  course,  or  who  with  us  labored  to  build  up  the 
Church  of  God,  are  consecrated  in  our  heart-memories.  "We 
love  to  think  of  them,  to  talk  of  them,  and  hold  up  their 
examples  to  the  present  generation,  as  so  many  beacon-lights 
to  guide  them  through  life's  stormy  seas  to  the  haven  of 
peace.  Under  the  influence  of  these  feelings,  I  have  under- 
taken the  following  brief  sketch  of  one  who  was  extensively 
known  and  beloved  by  the  early  Methodists  of  Alabama. 

The  Rev.  Robert  L.  Eennon  was  intimately  associated 
with  the  history  of  Methodism  in  Alabama  in  its  earlier 
struggles,  and  his  name  is  still  cherished  by  his  surviving 
contemporaries  with  affectionate  respect. 

He  was  born  in  Granville  county,  North  Carolina,  in  the 
8 


114  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

year  1789.  He  was  called  in  early  life  to  mourn  the  loss  of 
a  godly  mother;  but  this  loss  was  in  a  great  measure  sup- 
plied by  the  kindness  of  a  devoted  sister,  who  watched  over 
him  with  a  pious  and  maternal  Bolicitu.de,  training  him  in 
the  way  in  which  he  should  go.  Hi-  father  is  spoken  of  as 
a,n  Israelite  indeed ;  so  that  the  half-orphaned  boy  had  every 
advantage  which  early  instruction  and  consistent  example 
could  afford  him. 

He  was  converted  to  God  in  1801.  At  that  early  period  in 
his  life,  he  was  found  in  the  altar  praying  for  mourners — 
a  promising  beginning,  and  one  which  was  not  disappointed 
by  his  future  course. 

When  not  more  than  twelve  years  oid,  Borne  friends  Btopped 

at  his  father's  to  spend  the  night.  The  old  gentleman  was 
from  home  ;  and  at  the  close  of  the  evening,  to  the  astonish- 
ment of  the  visitors,  he  got  the  books,  read  a  chapter,  and 
offered  a  most  appropriate  and  fervent  prayer  to  God  for  his 
blessing  and  protection. 

During  his  academic  course  his  mind  was  drawn  off 
from  his  religious  duties,  and  he  lost  to  a  great  extent  the 
enjoyment  of  religion.  What  a  melancholy  thing  is  this, 
that  youug  men  who  have  been  hopefully  pious  up  to  the 
time  of  their  entrance  upon  academic  or  collegiate  life  can- 
not cultivate  their  minds  without  corrupting  their  hearts,  but 
leave  the  institution  hopelessly  bankrupt  so  far  afl  religion 
is  concerned  !     0,  how  many  such  wrecks  hi  n   float- 

ing on  the  tide  of  life!  and  how  many  such  are  met  with 
every  day!  But,  through  God's  abounding  goodness,  young 
Kennon  was  soon  alarmed,  and  recovered  from  his  wander- 
ings. 

In  1807,  he  was  pursuing  bis  academical  course  in  the 
town  of  Sparta,  Ga.,  where  his  father  then  resided.     Here 


ROBERT    L.    KENNON.  115 

he  was  associated  in  his  studies  with  Moses  Andrew,  and  a 
friendship  sprung  up  between  them  which  continued  un- 
abated while  they  lived.  Of  my  excellent  relative^  Dr.  An- 
drew, who  spent  many  of  the  last  years  of  his  life  in  Alabama, 
and  died,  I  believe,  in  Lowndes  county,  so  far  as  I  know,  no- 
thing has  yet  been  published.  Would  that  some  one  who 
knew  him  would  give  us  a  sketch  of  his  life  !  My  recollec- 
tion of  him  is  that  he  was  a  man  of  lovely  spirit  and  an  ex- 
cellent preacher. 

In  1809,  Dr.  Kennon  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  South 
Carolina  Conference,  and  stationed  on  Cypress  Circuit ;  1810, 
returned  to  Cypress ;  1811,  Kewee ;  1812,  Warrenton. 

In  1811,  he  was  admitted  into  full  connection,  and  ordained 
Deacon ;  in  1813,  he  was  ordained  Elder,  and  located,  on  ac- 
count of  ill-health. 

He  then  read  medicine  with  Dr.  "William  Lee,  of  Jasper 
county,  Georgia ;  and  it  was  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Lee  that  I 
had  my  first  interview  with  him.  This  was  in  1812,  some 
months  prior  to  his  location,  his  failing  health  having  com- 
pelled him  to  leave  his  circuit  before  the  close  of  the  year. 

He  remained  with  Dr.  Lee  that  year  and  the  next,  and  then 
went  to  Columbia,  S.  C,  where  he  completed  his  medical 
course,  and  pursued  his  literary  studies,  in  some  connection 
with  the  South  Carolina  College.  After  leaving  Columbia, 
he  returned  to  Georgia. 

I  was  admitted  on  trial  at  the  Conference  at  which  he 
located ;  and  as  my  work  for  the  year  following  lay  in  South 
and  North  Carolina,  I  did  not  meet  the  Doctor  again  till  1815, 
when  I  was  on  the  Warren  Circuit.  I  found  him  located, 
and  in  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Wrightsborough,  Columbia 
county,  Ga. 

He  was  successful  and  popular  as  a  physician  and  as  a 


HG  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

preacher;  for  though  he  did  not  judge  his  lungs  sufficiently 
strong  to  justify  him  at  that  time  in  reentering  the  itine- 
rancy, yet  he  preached  as  a  local  preacher  whenever  his  pro- 
feeaional  duties  wonld  allow.  In  the  spring  of  1815,  he  lost 
one  of  his  best  friends,  his  old  preceptor,  Dr.  Lee.  This  was 
a  painful  stroke  to  Dr.  Eennon,  and  opened  up  the  channels 
of  deep  feeling  in  a  heart  full  of  tenderness  and  formed  for 
friendship.  From  my  recollections  «>f  Dr.  Lee,  and  the  Im- 
pressions made  on  me  by  a  very  brief  acquaintance,  I  should 
judge  that  In-  was  a  man  whose  loss  would  be  painfully  and 

extensively  felt  in  the  community,  and  especially  by  such  a 
man  as  Robert  L.  Kcnnon,  sustaining  the  relations  which  he 
sustained  to  Dr.  Lee. 

About  this  time,  he  was  married  t<>  Miss  Martlia  Imsh,  of 
Warren  county,  Ga. :  and  in  1819,  lie  removed  from  Georgia 
to  Alabama  and  settled  at  Tuskaloosa,  where  his  superior 
qualities  as  a  citizen,  a  Christian,  a  physician,  and  minister 
of  Jesus,  procured  him  the  affection  of  a  large  circle  of 
friends  who  loved  him  to  the  end.  In  Tuskaloosa,  as  i 
where,  he  succeeded  well,  ami  acquired  reputation  as  a  physi- 
cian; hut  the  practice  of  medicine  was  not  his  Legitimate 
field  of  effort.  God  had  called  and  qualified  him  for  a  holier 
employment. 

Alabama  was  then  a  new  country.  Its  genial  climate  and 
fertile  -oil  were  constantly  attracting  to  it  thousands  of  en- 
terprising  citizens,  who  came  forthe  sole  purpose  of  acquiring 
wealth.  This  was  the  controlling  motive  which  attracted 
them  hither,  and  consequently  they  were  in  great  danger 
of  forgetting  God  entirely  in  their  successful  scramble  for 
worldly  gain.  The  state  of  society  was  what  may  he  easily 
imagined  under  such  circumstances.  Churches  were  few  and 
far   between;    and   many  Church -memhers   who   left   their 


ROBERT    L.    KENNON.  117 

former  homes  with  their  certificates  of  membership  had  no 
early  opportunity  of  presenting  them;  and  when  such  an 
opportunity  was  offered,  they  had  grown  careless,  and  pre- 
ferred to  remain  unconnected  with  the  Church  of  God.  Dr. 
Kennon  contemplated  the  state  of  society  around  him.  There 
were  many  great  and  effectual  doors  opening  in  all  directions, 
but  where  were  the  ministers  to  cultivate  these  widely-ex- 
tending and  interesting  fields  ?  They  were  too  few  to  occupy 
successfully  the  fertile  fields  around  them.  The  question 
might  very  appropriately  have  been  asked,  By  whom  shall 
Jacob  arise  ?  for  he  is  small. 

Dr.  Kennon  heard  the  call  of  the  Church,  and  resolved  to 
cut  himself  loose  from  all  worldly  employments,  and  throw 
himself  with  all  his  soul  into  the  work  of  his  earlier  love. 
He  was,  indeed,  abandoning  a  lucrative  profession,  and  re- 
spectable position,  and  very  pleasant  social  relations,  and 
throwing  himself  into  the  toils  and  privations  of  a  ministry 
which,  whatever  might  be  its  advantages  on  the  score  of  use- 
fulness, certainly  presented  no  inducements  of  a  pecuniary 
character ;  for  bad  as  our  pecuniary  prospects  now  are,  they 
Were  then  incomparably  worse.  Yet,  in  full  view  of  the 
earthly  comforts  he  was  surrendering,  and  the  struggles  and 
difficulties  before  him,  he  resolved  to  lay  all  upon  the  altar 
of  God,  and  follow  implicitly  the  convictions  of  duty. 

He  accordingly  reentered  the  travelling  Connection  in  the 
autumn  of  1824,  and  labored  the  four  succeeding  years  on  the 
Black  Warrior  District.  In  1829-30,  he  was  stationed  in 
Tuskaloosa;  1831-32,  Tuskaloosa  District;  1833,  Greens- 
borough  ;  1834,  supernumerary  on  Choctaw  Mission ;  1835- 
36,  in  the  city  of  Mobile ;  1837,  Tuskaloosa,  which  ended  his 
laborious  and  useful  life. 

In  presenting  our  views  of  Dr.  Kennon,  we  shall  consider 


118  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

the  distinguishing  traits  which  marked  his  character  as  a 
man  in  the  various  relations  to  which  he  "was  called  in  the 
providence  of  God. 

"We  have  seen  that  he  embraced  religion  in  his  boyhood, 
and  that  his  religions  course  was  decided;  for  we  find  him 
in  that  early  period  of  his  religious  experience  giving  proof 
of  the  reality  and  earnestness  of  his  love  for  his  Redeemer 
and  the  soul-  for  whom  he  died,  by  laboring  zealously  to 
bring  others  to  a  participation  of  those  pleasures  which  re- 
ligion alone  can  impart.  Thus  early  in  his  Christian  course 
did  that  spirit  begin  to  develop  it-.  If  which  was  destined  to  be 
the  controlling  element  of  his  life.  <  lod  even  then,  do  doubt, 
had  spoken  to  the  young  Samuel,  ami  Indicated  his  will 
concerning  him  in  reference  to  the  future  employment  of 
his  life. 

He  did  not  enter  upon  his  ministerial  career  till  he  had 
attained  his  majority.  In  this  he  acted  discreetly,  as  no 
doubt  many  a  young  man  of  anient  temperament  assumes 
the  saered  otliee  prematurely,  while  both  his  mental  and 
physical  powers  are  in  a  state  of  immaturity;  and  the  effects 
of  a  too  hasty  entrance  upon  his  important  work  are  pain- 
fully manifest  in  the  imperfections  of  his  pulpit  ministrations 
and  his  want  of  adaptation  to  his  ministerial  work  in  general. 

We  regret  that  we  have  been  unable  to  procure  any  ma- 
terials in  reference  to  his  early  religious  experience.  It 
would  have  tended  greatly  to  increase  the  interest  of  our 
sketch. 

In  the  year  lso'.t,  we  behold  our  friend  wending  his  way  to 
his  first  field  of  labor,  Cypress  Circuit,  lying  between  Orange- 
burg and  Charleston.  Of  his  youthful  itinerant  experiences 
we  are  also  ignorant.  All  that  we  know  i>,  that  for  two  or 
three  years  he  travelled  circuits  in  South  Carolina,  and  in 


ROBERT    L.    KENNON.  119 

1812  was  on  the  "Warrenton  Circuit  in  Georgia.  Here,  as  we 
have  stated,  long  before  the  year  closed,  his  health  failed  him, 
and  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of  medicine. 

Of  Dr.  Kennon's  character  as  a  preacher,  we  might  have 
much  to  say.  He  was  a  man  who  read  much.  His  mind  was 
diligently  cultivated,  and  his  sermons  gave  ample  evidence 
of  profound  thought.  He  had  a  pleasant  voice.  His  heart 
was  full  of  gentleness  and  kindness.  A  deep  earnestness  of 
soul  was  manifest  in  all  his  pulpit  efforts,  so  that  all  who 
heard  him  were  compelled  to  feel  that  he  was  oppressed  with 
a  deep  concern  for  the  salvation  of  the  souls  to  whom  he  was 
God's  messenger. 

By  the  way,  is  not  this  want  of  deep  concern  on  the  part 
of  the  preacher,  for  the  souls  of  his  dying  fellow-men,  one 
of  the  great  deficiencies  of  the  pulpit  in  this  age?  The 
ancient  prophets  of  God  were  wont  to  appropriate  the  title 
of  the  burden  of  the  word  of  the  Lord  to  those  fearful  and 
glorious  messages  which  God  charged  them  to  deliver  to  the 
rebels  whom  they  were  sent  to  warn  in  his  name.  The  title 
was  solemnly  appropriate,  but  not  more  appropriate  then 
than  now.  Behold  the  preacher  ascend  the  pulpit  on  the 
Sabbath.  Before  him  are  hundreds  of  undying  spirits,  who 
are  there  to  listen  to  God's  message  from  the  lips  of  his 
servant.  Some  of  them  are  probably  in  the  house  of  God 
for  the  last  time.  Their  destiny  for  eternity  depends  on  the 
decisions  of  that  day,  and  the  character  of  those  decisions 
turns  upon  the  character  of  the  sermon  which  they  are  there 
to  hear.  Has  the  preacher  entered  the  pulpit  under  a  deep 
consciousness  of  the  fearful  responsibilities  which  surround 
him  at  that  hour  ?  Does  he  look  on  his  congregation  in  view 
of  the  fearful  future  of  many  to  whom  he  is  then  by  Divine 
appointment  delivering  the  message  of  God  ?    Does  he  throw 


120  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

his  whole  soul  into  the  effort?  Does  he  speak  as  he  would 
do  if  he  knew  that  it  were  his  last  sermon  on  earth  ?  O, 
should  he  not  feel  with  crushing  weight  that  it  is  the  burden 
of  (he  Lord!  But,  instead  of  this,  has  he  entered  the  pulpit 
without  much  prayerful  thought?  did  he  rush  into  it  from  a 
social  evening's  frivolous  chat,  with  the  words  of  worldly 
folly  still  ri  1 1  u" i  1 1 lc  in  Lis  ears,  ami  his  mind  and  heart  still 
crowded  with  the  unholy  images  of  earthly  pleasure  or  ag- 
grandizement? or  does  he  stand  there  between  the  living 
God  and  a  dying  people,  and,  in  the  presence  of  both,  aim 
only  or  mainly  to  acquire  or  maintain  a  poor,  sickly,  dying, 
worldly  reputation? 

If  men  enter  the  ministry  under  tin'  influence  of  any  in- 
ferior motive,  if  they  regard  it  as  an  opening  to  the  attain- 
ment of  worldly  good  or  earthly  distinction,  and  look  not 
mainly  to  the  salvation  of  perishing  souls  around  them,  who 
without  the  embracement  of  gospel  truth  must  peri>li.  and 
that  for  ever — if  their  aim  he  any  thing  below  this  glorious 
mark,  their  ends  will  he  worldly,  their  studies,  their  prepara- 
tions for  the  pulpit,  Anil  look  mainly  to  self,  and  their  minis- 
trations will  of  course  he  powerless.  They  may  he  popular, 
crowds  may  follow  them,  their  congregations  may  increase, 
hut  the  souls  of  their  people  will  perish,  and  the  church 
under  their  care  will  become  dead.  Is  there  not  danger  at 
this  point  ? 

In  reference  to  our  excellent  friend  Dr.  Kennon,  this  deep 
and  burning  desire  for  the  salvation  of  the  souls  of  his 
hearers  seems  to  have  been  a  distinguishing  trait  in  the 
character  of  his  ministrations.  On  this  point,  I  take  great 
pleasure  in  introducing  the  following  extract  of  a  letter  from 
the  Hon.  II.  W.  Hilliard,  who  was  somewhat  intimately  as- 
sociated with  Dr.  Kennon  for  several  years.     The  letter  is  in 


ROBERT    L.    KENNON.  121 

reply  to  one  which  I  addressed  to  Mr.  Hilliard  requesting  in- 
formation respecting  Dr.  Kennon.     He  says : 

"  I  first  met  Dr.  Robert  L.  Kennon  about  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1832.  Having  been  elected  to  the  chair  of  English 
Literature  in  the  University  of  Alabama,  I  went  to  reside  at 
Tuskaloosa.  Dr.  Kennon  was  at  that  time  Presiding  Elder, 
I  believe,  of  the  Tuskaloosa  District. 

"  He  was  then,  I  suppose,  between  forty  and  fifty  years  of 
age.  His  person  was  slender,  his  height  about  five  feet  nine 
or  ten  inches,  yet  his  appearance  was  not  that  of  one  in  deli- 
cate health:  he  was  erect,  sinewy,  active.  His  face  was 
highly  intellectual :  the  outline  of  his  features  was  Grecian, 
his  forehead  and  nose  ranging  in  almost  a  right  line :  his 
light  hair  and  blue  eyes  gave  him  a  youthful  appearance. 

"His  manners  were  singularly  prepossessing — frank,  cor- 
dial, earnest.  In  conversation  he  was  very  attractive,  ani- 
mated, sometimes  playful,  nearly  always  cheerful.  Unaffect- 
edly, he  generally  gave  to  the  conversation  in  which  he  took 
part  an  intellectual  turn,  and  his  own  remarks  displayed  an 
uncommon  depth  and  vigor  of  thought. 

"Dr.  Kennon  was  a  preacher  of  very  high  order.  His 
great  quality  was  earnestness.  This  with  him  was  intense. 
He  had  but  little  action  in  the  pulpit,  but  yet  he  was  impas- 
sioned. The  flame  was  not  roaring,  flashy,  noisy,  but  steady, 
brilliant,  consuming.  His  eyes  sometimes  swam  in  tears, 
and  the  tones  of  his  voice  revealed  the  deepest  emotion ;  and 
yet  the  current  of  the  argument  or  appeal  rolled  on.  I  very 
weil  remember  to  have  heard  him  preach  in  the  old  framed 
church  in  Tuskaloosa,  to  a  very  large  congregation,  a  sermon 
of  great  power.  His  text  was  from  James  v.  20 :  '  Let  him 
know  that  he  which  converteth  the  sinner  from  the  error  of 
his  way,  shall  save  a  soul  from  death,  and  shall  hide  a  multi- 


122  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

tude  of  sins.'  I  have  before  me  Lis  plan  of  the  sermon,  in 
his  own  handwriting,  and  I  transcribe  it  for  you  : — 

"'First.  Responsibility  augmented  by  the  gospel:  with- 
out it,  man  would  possess  mere  physical  wants  for  a  short 
time;  with  it,  man  appears  in  a  new  light.  Religion  magni- 
fies the  social  principle — the  sympathies  and  influences  of 
man  over  man.  What  is  involved  in  the  conversion  of  a 
sinner?  1st,  Conviction  of  the  error  of  his  way;  2d,  Peni- 
tence; 3d,  Renunciation  of  sins;  4th,  Regeneration  and 
sanctification. 

"  'Second.  How  we  maybe  the  instruments  of  converting, 
etc.:  1st,  By  example;  2d,  Prudent  advice;  Bd,  Earnest 
prayer;  4th,  Ministry  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost — in- 
structed in  the  gospel — diligent. 

"  '  Third.  The  importance  of  the  work.  1st,  "WTiat  it  pre- 
vents :  it  covereth  the  multitude  of  sins — it  corrects  pasl  and 
prevents  those  which  otherwise  would  be  committed  ;  2d,  It 
saveth  a  soul — the  value  of  a  soul.  What  it  confers  in  salva- 
tion— the  comforts — joy — triumphs.' 

"The  effect  produced  by  the  sermon  was  extraordinary, 
especially  when  towards  its  conclusion  he  represented  the 
value  of  the  soul,  and  described  the  final  scene,  when  all 
transitory  things  should  be  swept  away,  and  nothing  be  Left 
to  view  but  heaven  above  and  hell  beneath.  Vehement 
shouting  broke  forth  in  a  part  of  the  congregation,  and 
some  of  the  ladies,  terrified  by  the  scene,  rose  and  left  the 
church. 

"I  attended  one  or  two  camp-meetings  with  Dr.  Kennon, 
ami  was  impressed  with  his  earnestness — his  concern  for  the 
salvation  of  souls  really  approximating  the  apostolic  spirit. 
I  regarded  him  as  a  genuine  successor  of  the  apostles.  Walk- 
ing with  him  when  we  sought  the  shelter  of  the  woods  for 


ROBERT    L.     KENNON.  123 

our  evening  prayer,  I  was  moved  to  see  how  the  burden  of 
souls  rested  upon  him. 

"  I  certainly  am  not  in  a  position  where  I  may  censure  any 
one,  but  I  must  say  that  I  have  rarely  witnessed  since  my 
association  with  Dr.  Kennon  any  thing  approaching  his 
marked  and  oppressive  concern  for  the  salvation  of  souls. 
If  I  may  be  pardoned  for  saying  so,  it  seems  to  me  that  the 
want  of  our  modern  ministry  is  just  this.  Dr.  Kennon's 
struggles  for  souls  realize  the  meaning  of  the  word  agonizing. 

"As  a  gentleman,  Dr.  Kennon  was  admirable.  He  kept 
up  his  relations  with  society,  visited,  corresponded,  knew 
political  men,  literary  men,  men  of  business,  and  was  uni- 
versally popular.  Yet  he  never,  I  believe,  lowered  his  stan- 
dard to  accommodate  others.  He  was  accepted  everywhere 
as  an  earnest,  pure-minded,  warm-hearted,  intelligent,  Chris- 
tian gentleman. 

"  I  have  said  that  his  conversation  was  intelligent ;  it  was 
also  religious.  He  made  me  a  visit :  the  conversation  turned 
on  the  future  state,  and  he  disclosed  to  me  his  view,  that  the 
redeemed  in  heaven  would  enjoy  greater  glory  than  the  un- 
smiling angels  who  kept  their  first  estate.  The  view  pre- 
sented by  him  possessed  me — I  could  not  escape  from  it ;  and 
for  the  first  time  I  caught  an  idea  of  the  surprising  glory  of 
that  future  state  when  men  saved  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
shall  share  his  triumphs." 

Thus  far  my  respected  friend,  Brother  Hilliard.  I  have 
given  this  long  extract,  for  the  simple  reason  that  it  embodies 
my  own  views  of  Dr.  Kennon's  character  as  a  Christian  gen- 
tleman and  minister  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  It  corre- 
sponds in  every  essential  particular  with  my  own  recollec- 
tions of  him. 

It  is  not  strange  that  such  a  man  should  have  been  well 


124  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

received  and  useful  wherever  his  lot  might  be  cast,  and  such 
we  believe  to  have  been  the  fact  with  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

But  not  only  was  Dr.  Kennon  such  a  preacher  as  has  been 
described,  but  as  a  consequence  he  greatly  loved  the  Church 
of  God,  and  was  warmly  attached  to  his  brethren  of  the 
Alabama  Conference.  For  the  Church  in  the  bounds  of  this 
then  young  Conference,  his  soul  was  deeply  concerned.  He 
expressed  his  feelings  on  this  subject  freely  to  me.  "  0,"  said 
he,  "how  I  feel  for  the  Church  in  this  country  !  Alabama  is 
destined  to  be  a  great  and  important  State,  and  tin-  whole 
country  is  open  before  us.  The  people  are  willing  t<>  receive 
US,  but  where  are  we  to  get  the  preacher.-  !  We  -hall  neglect 
it  till  others  will  occupy  the  ground  on  which  we  might  now 
enter." 

On  this  subject  he  felt  intensely.  It  greatly  rejoiced  him 
to  welcome  transfers  who  came  from  other  Conferences.  His 
soul  was  incapable  of  those  petty  jealousies  which  Bometimes 
give  to  the  transfer  from  a  distant  Conference  a  cool  recep- 
tion. When  he  witnessed  these  things  on  the  part  of  others, 
it  gave  him  great  pain. 

I  recollect  once  while  I  was  attending  a  Conference  held  at 
Greensborough,  Alabama,  I  was  preaching,  I  think,  in  a 
grove,  and  the  Doctor  was  sitting  behind  me.  It  was  a 
peculiar  cross  for  me  to  preach  on  that  occasion,  and  I  was 
rather  embarrassed;  but  happening  to  turn  round,  I  saw  the 
Doctor  in  tears.  It  encouraged  me  considerably.  But; 
service  I  ascertained  that  my  sermon  had  nothing  to  do  with 
his  tears.  Just  before  ascending  the  pulpit,  he  had  heard 
that  some  brother  who  had  been  transferred  to  Alabama 
had  resolved,  in  consequence  of  the  treatment  which  he  had 
received  from  some  members  of  the  Conference,  to  leave  Ala- 


ROBERT    L.     KENNON.  125 

bania  forthwith.  This  unhappy  circumstance  preyed  on  his 
mind  during  the  whole  service,  and  he  spoke  to  me  on  the 
subject  afterwards  with  a  good  deal  of  feeling. 

The  views  which  have  been  presented  of  Dr.  Kennon's 
general  traits  of  character  will  have  prepared  the  reader  for 
the  account  of  his  family-government,  a  very  important  de- 
partment of  a  Christian  minister's  life.  It  sometimes  hap- 
pens that  ministers  who  in  public  are  exceedingly  amiable  in 
their  manners,  present  a  very  different  aspect  to  the  members 
of  the  family-circle.  Abroad  among  strangers  they  are  all 
sunshine :  the  thunder-cloud  is  reserved  for  the  home-fireside. 
Such  was  not  the  case  with  our  friend.  The  geniality  and 
tenderness  which  were  essential  ingredients  in  his  character 
were  specially  developed  in  his  intercourse  with  the  loved 
ones  at  home.  Permit  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  his  daugh- 
ter, written  to  me  a  few  weeks  since : — "Allow  me  to  express 
the  deep,  affectionate,  and  reverential  interest  with  which  we 
his  children  look  to  this  tribute  to  his  memory.  Could  we 
have  disposed  of  the  work,  we  would  have  laid  it  at  your 
door,  feeling  that  none  so  appropriately  could  do  credit  to  a 
nature  so  pure  and  a  life  so  blameless,  as  you  had  both 
known  so  well  and  labored  so  long  with  him.  Though  but  a 
child  when  he  was  taken  from  us,  his  highly  practical  nature 
left  an  indelible  impression.  No  word  of  bitterness  toward 
any  sect  ever  escaped  his  lips :  indeed,  it  was  his  maxim  that 
the  enlightened  are  always  liberal.  He  taught  us  to  love 
nature — to  see  beauty  in  the  waving  grass,  the  gurgling 
stream,  and  in  every  flower.  A  devout  worshipper  in  the 
great  temple,  it  was  delightful  to  him  to  see  his  children 
moved  by  the  same  impulses.  Many  flowers  of  which  he 
taught  me  the  name  at  seven  years  old,  and  insects  whose 
beauties  he  pointed  out,  are  yet  loved  and  prized  on  that  ac- 


126  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

count.  It  will  ever  be  the  first,  great  grief  of  my  life,  and 
will  be  a  deep  and  lasting  sorrow,  that  before  we  were  prepared 
to  understand  the  wealth  of  his  mind  and  nature  he  was 
taken  from  us.  We  only  cherish  many  beautiful  fragments 
which  that  terrible  shock  left  as.  We  never  knew  him  to 
speak  harshly  iu  his  parental  dealings,  with  us;  but  so  great 
was  our  Love,  we  did  nol  think  of  disobedience." 

The  foregoing  extract  speaks  for  itself.  It  brings  ap  the 
memory  of  the  now  Bainted  father,  as  he  used  to  appear  in 
the  family-circle  with  his  little  ones  around  him,  listening  to 
the  gentle  words  of  parental  instruction,  or  leading  them  out 
6ome  pleasant  day  amidst  the  trembling  foliage,  opening 
flowers,  the  singing  of  birds,  and  the  chirping  of  insects,  all 
the  workmanship  of  the  almighty  and  infinitely  wise  and 
loving  Being  whose  name  and  power  are  everywhere.  0,1 
can  well  imagine  how  Robert  L.  Kennon  would  enj.-y  an  oc- 
casion like  this,  ami  how  wisely  and  happily  he  would  im- 
prove such  an  occasion  to  lead  his  little  flock  from  earthly 
fields  and  beauties  to  the  God  who  made  them  all ! 

Dr.  Kennon  was  remarkably  free  from  selfishness.  lie 
loved  God  and  could  trust  him;  therefore  he  gave  freely  of 
his  substance  to  the  relief  of  others,  and  exhibited  in  all  his 
coiidin-t  an  indifference  to  the  acquisition  of  property.  Per- 
haps he  carried  this  too  far;  for  while  it  is  true  that  a  Chris- 
tian minister  should  not  mingle  in  the  reckless  and  eager 
scramble  for  wealth,  it  is  nevertheless  his  duty  to  manage 
vigilantly  and  prudently  the  means  which  God  has  put  into 
his  hands,  so  that  if  God  should  eall  him  away  his  family 
should  not  be  left  entirely  destitute. 

A  striking  instance  of  his  confidence  in  God  is  related  by 
his  daughter.  The  Doctor's  health  was  rather  precarious, 
and  the  prospect  of  his  being  able  to  continue  in  the  effect- 


ROBERT    L.     KENNON.  127 

ive  ministry  was  becoming  very  doubtful.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances, some  of  bis  influential  friends  advised  Mm  to 
locate  and  accept  an  honorable  and  lucrative  appointment, 
by  which  his  family  would  be  placed  in  easy  circumstances. 
"With  expressions  of  becoming  gratitude  to  his  friends,  he 
declined  the  offer,  avowing  his  purpose  to  continue  in  the 
regular  travelling  ministry,  and  that  he  could  safely  and  con- 
fidently trust  God  for  the  temporal  comfort  of  himself  and 
family. 

The  Doctor  manifested  great  interest  in  the  religious  in- 
struction of  the  blacks,  and  was  of  course  greatly  beloved  by 
them.  On  one  occasion  this  was  shown  by  their  raising 
among  themselves  and  presenting  to  him  a  purse  of  one  hun- 
dred dollars.  This  he  gave  back  to  them,  requesting  them  to 
divide  it  among  themselves,  assuring  them  that  he  felt  as 
grateful  to  them  and  loved  them  as  well  as  though  he  had 
retained  it  all. 

Having  given  a  very  imperfect  sketch  of  Dr.  Kennon,  it  is 
appropriate  that  we  close  it  with  a  view  of  his  final  conflict 
and  triumph. 

At  the  close  of  1837,  the  Conference  met  at  Columbus, 
Miss.  Dr.  Kennon  came  to  the  city  a  few  days  before  the 
Conference,  in  unusually  good  health,  preached  on  the  last 
day  of  the  year  with  great  power,  and  took  a  leading  part  in 
the  watch-meeting,  where  his  solemn  remarks  on  the  short- 
ness and  value  of  time  seemed  premonitory  of  his  own 
speedy  departure. 

On  Monday  and  Tuesday,  he  assisted  in  the  examination 
of  the  young  preachers,  a  work  in  which  he  always  took  a 
deep  interest.  The  elevation  of  the  standard  of  ministerial 
qualification  was  an  object  for  which  he  labored  incessantly. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  while  engaged  in  the  work  of  exami- 


128  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

nation,  he  was  attacked  with  fever  and  inflammation  of  the 
lungs,  which  confined  him  to  his  bed  during  the  entire  session 
of  the  Conference;  and  just  before  the  other  preachers  re- 
ceived their  appointments,  he  was  called  by  the  Head  of  the 
Chureh  from  the  scene  of  his  labors  and  sufferings  with  his 
brethren  below,  to  join  the  ransomed  of  the  Lord  in  heaven. 

What  a  time  and  place  for  a  Christian  soldier  to  die  !  Sur- 
ronnded  by  a  host  of  brethren  beloved,  who  honored  and 
loved  him  with  no  ordinary  affection,  was  it  not  an  appro- 
priate place  for  the  Christian  soldier  to  fight  his  last  battle 
and  gain  his  final  triumph?  Around  him  were  the  men  who 
had  stood  with  him,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  on  many  a  hard- 
fought  field,  and  about  his  chamber  waited  those  invisible 
hosts  who  had  long  attended  his  footsteps  ;  and  best  of  all, 
his  glorious  Leader  was  there,  speaking  those  words  of  cn- 
COnragement  on  which  his  soul  had  so  often  leaned  in  tho 
hour  of  despondency  and  conflict:  "Lo,Iam  with  >/<>"  aboay" 
Bounded  sweetly  in  his  ear-. 

Perhaps  we  cannot  do  better  than  to  copy  from  the  memoir 
published  in  the  annual  Minutes  for  1839  the  graphic  account 
of  his  last  moments  ■ 

"Throughout  his  last  illness,  his  patience,  fortitude,  and 
humble  gratitude  for  any  attention  shown  him  were  remark- 
able. Though  at  a  distance  from  his  family,  and  detained 
from  the  business  of  the  Conference,  in  which  he  was  much 
interested,  his  mind  was  kept  in  peace,  for  it  was  stayed  upon 
God.  His  active  mind  could  not  refrain  even  in  sieknes9 
from  the  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  He  would  sometimes 
exclaim:  'I've  got  it!  I've  found  a  key  to  unloek  this  pas- 
sage which  I  have  long  sought :  I'll  preach  on  it  soon  !' 

"It  was  remarked  by  a  friend  who  sat  up  with  him  two  or 
three  nights  before  his  death  that  every  expression  he  uttered, 


ROBERT    L.    KENNON.  129 

whether  asleep  or  awake,  partook  of  the  loftiest  intelligence 
and  the  deepest  piety.  Two  of  the  preachers  visited  him  soon 
after  his  attack,  to  whom  he  said :  <  I  think  it  very  probable 
that  I  shall  be  located  here,  as  Brother  Cotton  was  at  the  last 
Conference;  but  I  have  no  fear  of  death.'  "When  asked  by 
Bishop  Andrew  whether  he  was  prepared  for  any  event  of 
sickness,  he  firmly  replied,  lI  am.'  His  faith  calmly  rested 
in  the  atonement  of  Christ ;  and  while  he  derived  no  comfort 
from  any  thing  he  himself  had  done,  he  felt  that  Jesus  was 
precious  to  his  soul.  About  an  hour  before  his  death,  he 
said:  'Brethren,  my  feelings  are  most  delightful:  here  is 
true  simplicity — here  is  true  grandeur!'  He  was  admiring 
with  rapture  the  glorious  plan  of  man's  salvation,  on  which 
alone  he  rested  his  hope,  and  his  soul  was  feasting  on  the 
love  of  God.  Thus  lived  and  died  this  eminent  servant  of 
Christ.  He  lived  for  God  and  his  Church;  and  when  his 
work  was  done,  he  went  from  the  walls  of  Zion  to  the  city 
above — 

'  His  body  with  his  charge  laid  down, 
And  .ceased  at  once  to  work  and  live.'  " 

The  body  was  taken  to  Tuskaloosa  for  burial;  and  the 
writer  of  this  sketch  endeavored  to  deliver  a  funeral  dis- 
course to  a  deeply-affected  audience,  who  had  long  known 
and  appreciated  the  deceased. 


[One  of  the  most  intimate  friends  of  Dr.  Kennon,  the  late  Governor  Collier,  of 
Alabama,  prepared  the  following  tribute  to  his  memory,  which  is  inscribed  on  a 
tablet  placed  on  the  right  side  of  the  pulpit  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  Tuska- 
loosa.— Editor.] 

9 


130  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

TO 
THE    MEMOBY     OF    THE 

REV.    ROBERT    L.    KEN N ON, 

LATE    A    PASTOB    OF    THIS    CH1UCH, 

WHO    DIED    THE    &TH    DAT    OF    JaMAKY,  A.   D.   1838, 

WHILE    ATTENIUNii    TIIK    AsNI'AI.    COMWMBMMOM 

IN    C.'l.i  KB1  B,    IflSIIMUFH, 


As  a  Christian,  Dr.  Kcnnon  was  deeply  pious,  without  austerity. 
As  a  minister,  he   was   absorbed    in    t!i"    great    work    of    nroxinlng  Christ   a 
crucified,  risen,  ascended,  and  interceding  Barioor. 

Having  acquainted  himself  with  the  Stored  Scriptures,  bj  the  aid  of  much 
i  and  study,  his  discourses  possessed,  iu  au  uncommon  degree,  the  charm 
of  variety. 

His  argumentation,  while  it  was  persuasive  and  winning,  was  often  powerful 
and  resistless. 

His  illustrations  were  apt  and  striking:  in  abort,  few  have  ever  delivered  the 
Divine  message  with  more  acceptability  and  edification. 

For  more  than  eighteen  years,  (saving  an  occasional  absence  of  short  continu- 
ance,) his  pious  labors  were  faithfully  dispensed  in  this  community. 

As  a  feeble  acknowledgment  of  his  worth,  and  to  incite  his  successors  to 
increased  zeal  in  the  service  of  their  Master,  this  effort  of  art  is  affectionately 
dedicated  to  his  virtues  by  surviving  fri< 


The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth,  but  the  word  of  our  GOD  shall 
stand  for  ever." 


WILLIAM    M.    KENNEDY.  131 


WILLIAM    MEGEE    KENNEDY. 

BY    THE    REV.    JAMES    STACY. 

Infinite  "Wisdom  seems  to  have  judged  it  best,  in  the 
original  arrangement  of  animated  nature,  to  invest  it  with  pro- 
gressional  power  to  an  almost  unlimited  degree ;  so  that 
progress  may  he  styled  the  invincible  law  of  nature  in  this 
department.  The  fruitful  branch,  the  perfected  man,  or  the 
civic  compact,  is  the  legitimate  result  of  its  action  upon  the 
germ.  The  occupancy  of  a  province  or  continent,  and  the 
organization  of  the  body  politic  in  either,  is  effectuated  by 
this  law.  Its  action  upon  the  Old  World  led  to  the  discovery 
of  the  Western  Continent,  and  to  the  firm  establishment  of  its 
institutions.  And  while  England  and  France  were  actuated 
by  it  to  furnish  their  quota  of  valuable  citizens  to  the  "New 
World,"  Scotland  and  Ireland  were  equally  liberal.  From 
the  latter — near  Belfast — came  the  paternal  ancestors  of 
William  Megee  Kennedy. 

His  father,  Mr.  Francis  Kennedy,  was  a  genuine  patriot, 
and  knew  how  to  estimate  civil  liberty  and  to  resist  foreign 
oppression.  He  claimed  Virginia  as  his  native  place ;  but, 
through  the  guidance  of  Divine  Providence,  he  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Megee,  of  Marlborough  District, 
S.  C,  a  most  excellent  lady. 


132  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

The  happy  couple  were  destined  to  pass  through  a  severe 
ordeal.  When,  in  177G,  the  War  of  the  Revolution  was 
waged,  Mr.  Kennedy,  as  a  brave  man,  roused  with  indigna- 
tion at  the  aggressive  movements  of  the  English  government, 
resolved  to  unite  with  the  American  army  in  resisting  the 
haughty  and  insolent  foe.  In  this  conflict,  through  the  per- 
fidy of  the  toriea  ami  the  rapacity  of  tin-  English  army,  the 
ample  estate  of  the  family  was  greatly  reduced.  Still,  Mr. 
Kennedy  never  received  either  reimbursement  or  pension 
from  the  United  States  government. 

The  close  of  the  Revolution  found  him,  thereto,  e,  unsettled 
in  life,  with  a  crippled  fortune.  lie  remained  in  this  state 
several  years,  without  adding  much  to  his  possessions  or  be- 
coming permanently  settled,  on  which  account  the  birthplace 
of  his  son,  William  Mogee,  cannot  1"'  fixed  with  precision. 
An  elder  member  of  the  family  fixes  it  in  Greenville  I>i>triet, 

S.  C.  But  it  is  almost  certain  that  he  W8S  born  in  the  south- 
eastern section  of  that  portion  of  North  Carolina  which  was, 
in  17'JO,  ceiled  to  Tennessee.  From  this  place,  the  family  re- 
turned to  Marlborough  District,  B.  <'.,  ami,  after  a  few  years, 
settled  in  Bullock  county,  Ga. 

William  Megee  l'lt  the  force  of  these  changes  of  place  ami 
fortune,  as  they  thwarted  somewhat  the  purposes  of  his  father 
respecting  his  education.  lie  was,  however,  entered  I 
pupil  in  the  Savannah  High  School  soon  after  his  removal  to 
Georgia;  hut  he  only  continued  a  few  months.  He  was  then 
connected  with  a  printing  establishment  in  Savannah  a  short 
time.  This  was  to  him  a  means  of  improvement  which  he 
highly  prized  ami  used  to  great  advanta. 

His  proficiency  in  his  studies  was  bo  marked  that  his  way 
was  speedily  opened  to  public  life.  lie  was  not,  however, 
incautious  in  his  movements.     Young  as  he  was,  he  sought 


WILLIAM    M.     KENNEDY.  133 

the  will  of  God,  as  that  will  might  be  indicated  in  his  provi- 
dence ;  and  when  satisfied  that  God  approved  of  his  course, 
lie  acted  promptly.  He  was  elected  clerk  of  the  court  in 
Savannah  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  but  it  is  not  certain  how 
long  he  held  this  office. 

His  parents  were  not  unmindful  of  their  personal  obliga- 
tions to  God,  or  of  the  social  duties  which  they  owed  to  their 
children.  They  had  been  made  partakers  of  God's  pardon- 
ing grace,  and  felt  the  more  intensely  the  necessity  of  train- 
ins:  their  household  "  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord."  This  labor  of  love  was  not  bestowed  on  their  son  in 
vain.  His  conscience  was  tender,  his  heart  was  impressible, 
and  readily  took  the  mould  of  love.  He  was  led  to  seek 
salvation  through  the  efficient  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Hope 
Hull,  a  distinguished  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  Church  is  apt  to  perceive  true  moral  worth  as  it  may 
be  developed  in  her  membership.  Such  a  youth  as  this  could 
not  fail  to  attract  her  attention.  Accordingly,  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  leadership  in  the  Church  where  he  held  his 
membership  while  quite  young.  His  usefulness  in  this  rela- 
tion led  to  the  conclusion  that  a  higher  station  awaited  him. 
In  his  case,  the  natural  qualifications  for  the  ministry  were 
so  marked  that  the  Church  felt  no  hesitancy  in  authorizing 
him  to  preach.  He  has  not  left  any  data  from  which  we  can 
gather  the  peculiar  exercises  of  his  mind  on  this  subject,  ex- 
cept his  subsequent  life. 

"While  he  felt  convinced  that  the  Lord  required  him  to 
preach  the  gospel,  his  modesty  made  his  action  tardy ;  but 
the  Church  was  so  fully  persuaded  of  his  obligations  in  the 
premises,  that  her  action  might  be  regarded  hasty.  Indeed,  it 
is  not  certain  whether  he  applied  for  authority  to  preach,  or 


134  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

whether  the  Church  gave  him  that  authority  without  being 
asked.  She  did  certainly  make  him  feel  that  she  placed  all 
confidence  in  him,  and  that  Lis  labors  would  be  highly  ac- 
ceptable to  her.  Under  these  circumstances,  his  name  was 
taken,  with  the  requisite  formalities,  to  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence as  a  candidate  for  admission  into  the  South  Carolina 
Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Although  the  several  Annual  Conferences  had  no  denned 
boundaries  prior  to  ls<>4,  --till  their  separate  existence  was 
recognized  as  early  as  lsn:2;  and  the  South  Carolina  Con- 
ference  held  its  fifth  session  in  the  town  of  Camden,  com- 
mencing on  the  30th  day  of  December,  1805,  closing  the  4th 
day  of  January,  180G. 

There  was  a  rare  collection  of  ministerial  excellence  on 
this  occasion.  There  were  two  bishops  present,  Mr.  Asbury 
and  Mr.  Whatcoat.  The  Rev.  "William  McKendree,  who  was 
elected  to  the  F.piseopaey  in  isu^,  by  a  very  Mattering  vote, 
was  also  present. 

The  Churches  in  the  South  Carolina  Conference  had  sent 
up  to  this  session  of  the  body  twelve  noble-spirited  candidates 
for  the  ministry.  And  while  the  number  answered  to  that 
chosen  by  the  Saviour  when  he  organized  his  Church,  their 
spirits  were  not  dissimilar.  Here,  for  the  first  time,  the 
names  of  the  sainted  Samuel  Dunwody  and  "William  M. 
Kennedy  were  associated.  And,  actuated  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
influenced  by  the  same  motives — the  glory  of  God  and  the  sal- 
vation of  souls — they  continued  "true  yoke-fellows"  for  more 
than  thirty  years,  when  death  dissolved  the  terrestrial  union. 

Had  Bishop  Asbury  known  the  style  of  men  by  which  the 
itinerant  corps  of  Carolina  was  now  to  he  reinforced,  he 
would  not  have  felt  the  "great  heaviness"  of  spirit  of  which 
he  complained  on  his  way  to  Conference. 


WILLIAM    M.    KENNEDY.  135 

There  may  be  some  truth  in  the  trite  adage,  "  Circum- 
stances make  the  man."  Circumstances  do  call  forth  the 
mental  force  and  moral  excellence  of  every  right-minded 
man.  The  "times"  in  which  Augustus  Csesar  and  Napoleon 
Bonaparte  lived  brought  into  vigorous  exercise  their  re- 
sources. So,  also,  did  the  circumstances  under  which  Luther 
and  Wesley  were  placed.  And  as  "William  M.  Kennedy  stood 
connected,  in  time,  with  both  the  past  and  present  generation 
of  Methodist  ministers,  he  would  necessarily  share  in  the 
hardships  and  sorrows  of  the  former  and  the  joyous  suc- 
cesses and  anticipations  of  the  latter.  The  mind  delights 
to  dwell  on  those  early  days  of  Methodism.  One  almost 
hears  the  sweet  anthems  as  they  rolled  from  lips  now  silent 
in  death,  and  the  torrent  of  eloquence  gushing  from  the  full 
heart  of  the  heaven-baptized  minister,  and  the  shout  of  vic- 
tory, rising  to  heaven  over  the  thousands  of  souls  newly  born 
from  above.  Temporal  embarrassments  and  spiritual  pros- 
perity filled  the  cup  of  the  Church  in  those  days.  As  the 
moon  passing  through  her  phases  first  furnishes  only  a  dim 
outline  of  her  magnitude,  afterwards  unvailing  a  silver  globe, 
so  Methodism  presented  to  our  fathers  little  more  than  a  life 
of  suffering  and  unceasing  labor  in  its  earthly  connections, 
but  a  glorious  inheritance  beyond  the  grave.  The  mind 
actuated  by  selfish  principles  could  find  no  inducement  to 
unite  with  the  Methodist  ministry  in  those  days.  However 
literary,  intellectual,  or  wealthy  a  young  man  might  be,  in 
connecting  himself  with  the  ministry,  even  as  late  as  1806, 
he  had  spread  before  him  a  scene  of  unceasing  labor,  untold 
sufferings  and  peril,  together  with  a  mere  pittance  for  sup- 
port. He  might  receive  eighty-four  dollars  per  annum,  if  the 
Church  offered  it  to  him,  to  cover  all  expenses  !  "With  such 
a  prospect  before  him,  it  required  a  young  man  of  vast  moral 


136  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

courage,  of  unfaltering  integrity,  with  a  spirit  baptized  with 
the  Holy  Ghost,  to  enter  and  continue  in  the  itinerant  min- 
istry. 

A  man  of  the  world,  though  a  profound  thinker,  -lands 
amazed  to  Bee  a  young  man  of  fine  sensibilities,  of  amiable 
spirit  and  encouraging  worldly  prospects,  tearing  himself 
away  from  early  associations,  from  the  bosom  of  parental 
affection  and  flattering  prospects  of  Buccess  in  life,  and  org* 
in lt  his  onward  course  to  some  distent  field  of  labor,  without 
the  pledge  of  even  a  meagre  rapport,  to  say  nothing  of  a 
provision  for  the  dark  days  n\'  affliction  and  age;  y.t  this 
was  the  ease  with  young  Kennedy.  In  the  beginning  of 
1806,  when  he  had  just  completed  his  twenty-third  year,  he 

might  have  been  seen  taking  an  affectionate  leave  of  those 
he  loved.  And,  lifting  his  eyes  and  heart  to  heaven  in 
humble  prayer  for  Divine  protection  and  guidance,  he  turned 
his  lace  toward  his  first  field  of  labor  in  the  State  of  Georgia. 
Here  his  itinerant  career  commenced. 

It  is  a  work  worthy  of  the  strongest  and  most  devout  mind 
to  inquire  after  the  impulsive  agency  which  moved  a  young 
man  of  such  a  mould  to  commence  and  continue  so  lot 
course  of  suffering  and  toil  with  such  indomitable  zeal  and 
unfaltering  courage,  without  a  promise  of  any  earthly  com- 
fort The  problem  can  be  Bolved  by  a  spiritual  process  alone. 
A  celestial  visitant  spoke  to  his  heart,  ami  his  interior  ear 
was  opened.  The  cry  of  perishing  souls  was  heard,  saying, 
"Come  over  and  help  us  !"  How  could  he  resist  the  call? 
How  can  any  man,  who  loves  God  and  lays  a  proper  estimate 
on  the  souls  of  men,  resist  it?  How  dare  he  resist,  seeing  he 
thereby  imperils  his  own  soul! 

It  may  he  readily  seen  how  a  man  whose  mind  is  heset 
with  doubt  on  this  vital  point  may  fear  and  falter  through 


WILLIAM    M.     KENNEDY.  137 

the  whole  of  his  ministerial  life.  Even  an  archangel  would 
tremble  to  assume  the  character  and  attempt  the  work  of 
the  minister  of  Christ,  unbidden  by  Jehovah. 

Jesus  Christ  has  purchased  the  Church  with  his  own  blood. 
She  must  be  served — the  gospel  must  be  preached.  But 
"who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?"  and  who  shall  venture 
to  "touch  the  ark"  of  God?  He  who  enters  the  ministry 
should  be  convinced  in  his  own  mind  that  he  is  Divinely 
called  to  this  work.  It  is  true  that  the  evidence  of  this  call 
may  not  be  entirely  satisfactory  at  first.  But  devout  suppli- 
cation, blended  with  resignation  to  the  will  of  God,  will  soon 
quiet  all  fear.  There  must  be  an  action  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
upon  the  heart,  moving  it  in  that  line  of  life.  "  It  is  neces- 
sary," says  Vinet,  "  that  God  should  speak  to  the  heart.  He 
alone  who  created  the  world  can  make  a  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel. This  is  true  not  only  because  he  alone  gives  the  talents 
and  the  acquisition,  but  especially  because  there  is  something 
more  profound  which  he  alone  can  give.  It  is  the  right 
neither  of  the  greatest  talent,  nor  the  greatest  labor,  nor  the 
most  extended  science,  to  '  steal '  this  mission.  A  man  makes 
himself  guilty  of  simony  when  he  would  buy  the  ministry  as 
a  venal  thing,  at  the  price  of  talent  or  labor." 

The  office  of  the  ministry  cannot  be  taken  as  a  profession 
and  the  holder  be  guiltless.  One  may  consult  the  aptitudes 
of  his  nature  in  choosing  the  practice  of  law,  medicine,  or 
the  fine  arts :  such  a  course  accords  with  the  will  and  govern- 
ment of  God.  But  in  moral  questions  the  tendencies  of  na- 
ture are  adverse  to  the  Divine  will.  Hence,  to  consult  our 
natural  inclinations  respecting  the  work  of  the  ministry  will 
lead  to  disastrous  results. 

Tnere  are  certain  qualifications  which  must  exist  in  the 
candidate,  and  which  must  be  in   course   of  development 


138  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCII1 

when  he  is  admitted  into  the  ministry.  So  that  the  Church, 
in  finally  determining  the  genuineness  <A'  hia  call,  must  not 
be  indifferent  to  his  natural  qualifications, while  sin-  demands 
the  existence  of  the  inward  call,  the  moving  of  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

"In  reference  to  some  qualifications  which  are  indispensa- 
ble to  ministerial  success,"  says  Dr.  Olin,  "some  degree  of 
deficiency,  or  even  the  entire  want  of  them,  is  not  an  indica- 
tion that  the  individual  should  not  devote  himself  to  the 
sacred  calling.  Many  obstacles  are,  in  their  nature,  vincible, 
and  may  be  overcome  by  time  and  perseverance.  Imperfec- 
tion in  education,  in  knowledge,  and  even  religious  experi- 
ence, may  ezisl  to  an  extent  which  render-  an  entrance  upon 
the  ministry  immediately  exceedingly  Improper,  without  con- 
stitnting  any  presumption  againsl  the  existence  of  a  Divine 
vocation  to  that  work."  The  Church  lays  great  stress  on 
ministerial  success  as  evidence  of  a  Divine  call  to  this  work. 
If  any  one  can  point  to  the  seals  of  his  ministry  and  Bay, 
"These  are  my  epistles,  known  and  read  of  all  men,"  who 
shall  gainsay  his  claims  to  the  ministerial  functions? 

When  William  M.  Kennedy  applied  for  admission  into  the 
South  Carolina  Conference,  he  came  as  an  humble  Christian 
man.  The  general  lack  of  facilities  for  intellectual  culture 
had  been  felt  hy  him.  He  had  not  even  a  complete  academic 
education.  Still,  he  had  a  good  constitution,  a  mind  full  of 
vigor,  and  susceptible  of  improvement;  and  he  was  anxious 
to  improve.  He  had  been  genuinely  converted  ;  and  the 
"love  of  Christ  constrained"  him  to  offer  himself  to  the 
Church,  feeling  that  whatever  disposition  she  might  make  of 
his  case,  he  would  be  resigned.  lie  exhibited  ever}*  charac- 
teristic of  a  Christian  man  called  of  God  to  the  ministry, 
lie  felt  the  movings  of  the  Tloly  Ghost ;  souls  were  converted 


WILLIAM    M.     KENNEDY.  139 

through,  his  labors  Loth  as  a  class-leader  and  as  a  licentiate ; 
and  although  very  imperfect  in  his  early  mental  training,  still 
he  gave  ample  proof  of  having  a  "  sound  mind."  He  had  an 
excellent  voice,  and  a  commanding  personal  appearance. 
With  this  combination  of  encouraging  characteristics,  he 
placed  himself  at  the  disposal  of  the  Church  of  his  choice. 
She  received  him  "as  a  son  in  the  gospel." 

It  was  the  fortune  of  this  estimable  minister  to  serve  the 
Church  in  almost  all  the  relations  which  the  Methodist  econo- 
my recognizes  as  proper,  primarily,  for  her  ministers  to  hold. 
He  wras  placed  on  a  Circuit  three  years.  His  appointment  for 
1806  was  the  Broad  River  Circuit,  in  the  State  of  Georgia. 
He  served  the  Church  on  the  Enoree  Circuit  the  next  year, 
and  the  year  after  he  was  sent  to  Santee  Circuit. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  an  Annual  Con- 
ference included  three  or  four  States,  and  a  whole  State 
served  as  a  Presiding  Elder's  District,  and  the  Circuits  were 
in  the  same  proportion.  The  Circuit  preacher  then  would 
travel  from  two  to  four  hundred  miles  in  twenty-eight  days, 
and  preach,  upon  an  average,  six  times  each  week.  And  it 
mattered  not  whether  the  weather  were  hot  or  cold,  wet  or 
dry — whether  the  house  of  worship  were  a  private  residence, 
a  log-cabin,  or  a  barn,  the  fearless  herald  of  the  cross  pro- 
claimed to  all  the  "unsearchable  riches  of  Christ."  Sinners 
were  awakened  by  hundreds,  and  in  their  distress  they  sought 
and  found  pardon  through  faith  in  the  Saviour's  name.  In 
this  work  the  young  preacher  rejoiced.  His  love  to  God  was 
vehement,  his  desire  to  do  good  was  all-prevailing.  A  min- 
istering angel  never  rejoiced  with  richer  joy  than  Kennedy 
felt  over  the  returning  sinner  as  he  approached  the  sceptre  of 
Jesus  and  found  pardon.  Notwithstanding  he  took  so  much 
delight  in  doing  good  to  others,  he  was  not  unmindful  of  the 


1-40  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

"vows  of  God"  which  were  upon  him.  He  was  pledged  to 
mental  as  well  as  moral  improvement.  It  is  true  that  hooks 
were  then  comparatively  .  his   daily  rides  were  long 

and  his  Labors  fatiguing,  yet,  true  to  his  purpose,  he  "gave 
himself  to  reading" — "redeeming  the  time."  When  he  had 
spent  time  enough  with  the  family  where  he  might  chance  to 
Lodge  for  religious  and  Bocial  purposes,  (and  he  was  social  in 
the  full  sense  of  the  term,)  he  retired  to  his  room,  it"  he  had 
.  or  to  the  woods;  or,  it'  unavoidable,  he  sal  down  in  the 
domestic  circle,  and,  closing  eyes  and  car-  to  what  was  j 
in lt,  as  much  as  he  might,  gave  himself  to  his  hooks  and  his 
studies.  God  blessed  him  in  this  work  also ;  and  hia  early 
limited  Btores  acquired  uew  supplies  with  surprising  rapidity. 
Hence  his  Bpeedy  rise  to  a  position  of  eminence  in  his  Con- 
ference. 

He  served  the  Church  as  a  stationed  preacher  thirteen  years. 
He  was  Btationed  in  the  city  of  Charleston  in  1809, 1810, 1820, 
1821,  1834,  and  1835;  Camden,  1818;  Wilmington,  N.  C., 
1819;  Augusta,  Ga.,  1820-27;  Columbia,  8.  C,  1828,  1* 
183<»,  and  1837.  During  these  yean,  his  ministerial  cha- 
racter was  fully  developed  both  as  to  his  abilities  as  a 
preacher  and  a  pastor.  In  the  former  he  was  not  regarded 
as  eloquent,  nor  did  his  pulpit  efforts  appear  scholarly ;  still 
his  mod''  of  exegesis  was  Bimple  and  forcible.     lie  rarely 

preached   a   set    discourse    On    any   of    the    mooted    points   of 

theology.  lie  confined  his  public  ministrations  to  what  he 
rded  the  pure  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  In  his  pulpit  pre- 
parations, he  studied  the  sacred  text  upon  his  knees.  lie 
labored  to  ascertain  the  mind  of  the  Spirit.  And  when  he 
was  satisfied  that  he  had  grasped  the  import  of  his  text — in 
some  degree  at  hast — he  went  before  the  people,  relying  for 
Bueceea  upon  the  hlessing  of  God  alone;  and  as  his  mind  re- 


WILLIAM    M.     KENNEDY.  141 

ceived  the  holy  afflatus,  and  his  heart  glowed  with  the  love 
of  Jesus,  and  his  sweet  spirit  moved  his  tongue  to  pour  forth 
the  truth  of  God  in  gentle  tones,  there  came  an  unction  upon 
the  preacher  and  the  hearer  which  gave  efficiency  to  the 
"word."  It  went  to  the  heart  as  a  keen  blade,  wounding 
the  sinner's  conscience,  consoling  the  contrite  spirit,  en- 
couraging the  weak  believer,  and  "building  him  up"  in  the 
faith  of  the  gospel. 

Although  he  was  not  regarded  as  a  man  of  great  learning, 
nor  considered  perfect  in  his  style  of  speaking,  yet,  such  was 
his  unworldly  mien,  his  unaffected  piety,  his  affectionate  in- 
tercourse with  the  people,  and  his  faithful,  earnest,  successful 
preaching,  that  he  was,  in  the  best  and  strongest  sense  of  the 
phrase,  a  popular  preacher.  All  the  people  loved  him — they 
reverenced  him  as  "a  man  of  God."  He  was  emphatically 
an  apostolical  preacher.  And  thousands  will  call  him 
"blessed"  in  the  great  assize,  as  the  chief  instrument  in 
their  salvation. 

But  he  excelled  most  ministers  in  the  pastoral  relation. 
"While  stationed  in  the  large  towns  and  cities,  his  pulpit  obli- 
gations demanded  a  great  deal  of  reading  and  study.  But 
he  regarded  the  pastoral  claims  as  equally  important,  and 
dared  not  to  ignore  them.  He  even  preferred  to  act  the  part 
of  an  angel  of  mercy,  unobserved,  rather  than  to  shine  as  a 
star  of  the  first  magnitude.  He  was  ready  to  serve  all  classes 
of  his  charge.  The  habitation  of  the  poor  was  often  cheered 
by  his  presence  and  his  prayers.  He  was  ready  to  serve  the 
humblest  slave  in  the  work  of  salvation,  while  he  suitably 
regarded  those  in  better  circumstances.  His  intercourse  with 
all  classes  was  marked  with  dignified  meekness,  and  faithful- 
ness blended  with  urbanity.  When  reproof  was  necessary, 
he  gave  it;    and  it  is  questionable  whether  any  uninspired 


142  BIOGRAPHICAL    BKBTOHB8. 

man  was  ever  better  qualified  than  William  M.  Kennedy  for 
that  most  difficult  part  of  a  pastor's  duty.  He  did  it  plainly, 
yet  with  so  much  affection  and  gentleness  as  to  completely 
disarm  the  delinquent,  and  Lead  him  to  sec  his  folly  and 
mourn  over  it  with  purposes  of  amendment.  He  arrested 
more  cases  of  incipient  backsliding  perhaps  than  any  other 
man  of  his  age;  and  if  the  members  of  his  charge  needed 

luragement,  he  was  prepared  to  give  it.  The  pron 
of  the  gospel  -at  gracefully  on  his  lips;  and  the  spirit  of 
kindness  with  which  In-  quoted  them  permitted  them  t<>  carry 
their  native  richness  t'»  the  disconsolate  soul:  and  his  ex- 
perience enabled  him  to  unfold  tip-  way  of  Balvation  to  the 
humble  penitent  bo  clearly  I  led  relief  was  soon 

obtained.    His  visits  to  the  Bick  and  dying  were  peculiarly 
blessed,  both  t"  the  sufferer  and  himself;  tor.  while  his  sym- 
pathizing Bpirit  seemed  to  share  the  pains  of  the  affli 
and  the  agonies  of  the  death-struggle — his  humble  pleadings 

awhile  procuring  from  the  throne  of  grace  the  needed 
aid — his  own  soul  participated  also  in  the  grace  given,  and 
his  confidence  in  the  efficiency  of  the  gospel  of  Chrisl  grew 
stronger.  Death  is  an  honest  hour,  in  which  any  defect, 
cither  in  the  creed  or  experience  of  mortals,  will  he  detected. 
,  many  a  finely-wrought  theory,  hitherto  untested,  has 
vanished  like  a  gorgeous  cloud  before  the  boreal  blast.  Here, 
to. i.  many  who  have  passed  through  life  noiselessly,  have  ex- 
emplified the  power  of  •  -o  wonderfully  as  to  strike 
terror  to  the  heart  of  the  unbeliever  and  inspire  the  timid 
with  unwonted  courage.     It  is  not  surprising,  then,  that 

"The  chamber  where  the  good  man  meets  his  fate" 

should  he  Bought  by  the  "man  of  God,"  that  he  might,  i 

•  1  of  mercy,  smooth  the  passage  to  the  tomb,  and  deliver 


WILLIAM    M.     KENNEDY.  143 

up  to  the  Lord  Jesus  the  soul  which,  as  an  under-shepherd, 
he  had  guided  in  the  way  of  life.     To  him,  it  is  a  place 

" privileged  beyond  the  common  walk 

Of  virtuous  life," 

seeing  each  triumphant  death  is  an  additional  proof  both  of 
the  truth  and  power  of  Christianity. 

Is  the  scheme  of  redemption,  unfolded  in  the  ISTew  Testa- 
ment, able  to  save  a  sinner  ?  "What  finite  mind  could  answer 
the  inquiry  prior  to  the  first  attestation  of  its  power  ?  "  The 
angels  desire  to  look  into"  the  efficiency  of  this  wonderful 
system ;  and,  as  the  ingeniously  wrought  piece  of  mechanism 
in  the  experimental  process  is  watched  with  eager  interest  by 
the  artisan,  so  do  they  behold  the  workings  of  gospel  grace 
in  the  renewal  of  a  sinner's  heart. 

And,  as  the  dying-hour  furnishes  the  final  test  of  the  gen- 
uineness of  Christian  experience  known  to  mortals,  the  min- 
ister of  Christ  repairs  with  solemn  interest  to  the  chamber 
of  the  dying  Christian,  who,  lifting  his  eyes  and  prayers  to 
heaven,  secures  the  presence  of  an  indwelling  Saviour,  and  with 
enrapturing  visions  of  glory  passes  away  from  earth,  furnish- 
ing to  each  beholder  a  practical  illustration  of  the  ability  of 
Christ  to  "save  to  the  uttermost"  all  who  come  to  God 
through  him.  From  such  scenes  our  brother  would  return 
with  his  spirit  subdued,  his  faith  increased,  and  his  zeal 
wonderfully  intensified.  A  man  of  such  mould  and  habits 
could  not  fail  to  secure  the  affections  of  his  people. 

The  junior  portion  of  his  charge  shared  largely  in  his 
affectionate  regards  and  pious  labors.  He  was  a  strong  be- 
liever in  juvenile  conversions.  While  his  intercourse  with 
children  was  free  from  moroseness,  it  was,  nevertheless,  so 
grave  as  to  impress  the  youthful  mind  deeply  with  a  sense  of 


144  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

the  sanctity  of  the  ministerial  office.  Still  his  gravity  was 
attractive.  The  children  with  whom  he  had  intercourse  felt 
it,  yet  they  loved  him ;  Bad  they  felt,  also,  that  he  loved 
them.  The  child  reads  the  heart,  as  it  is  developed  in  the 
countenance,  with  surprising  accuracy.  That  little  child 
whom  Jesns  called  nnto  him  wai  not  afraid  of  the  reverend 
stranger.  It  could  read  in  his  countenance  the  affection  of 
his  heart.  The  heavenly  radiance  which  beamed  from  his 
eyes  instantly  captivated  thai  young  heart  The  same  re- 
sults, in  some  measure,  follow  the  intercourse  which  the 
devout  minister  holds  with  the  children  of  his  charge.  The 
Discipline  of  the  Church  enjoins  on  every  minister  in  charge 
of  a  circuit  or  station  "  to  obtain  the  names  of  the  children 
belonging  to  his  congregations,  and  to  leave  a  list  of  such 
names  for  his  successors ;  and  in  his  pastoral  visits  he  shall 
pay  Bpecial  attention  to  the  children,  Bpeak  to  them  person- 
ally and  kindly  on  experimental  and  practical  godliness, 
according  to  their  capacity;  pray  earnestly  for  them,  etc." 
Perhaps  the  Church  has  never  had  a  minister  who  complied 
with  this  regulation  more  faithfully  than  William  M.  Ken- 
nedy, lie  kept  a  little  hook  in  which  he  recorded  the 
names  of  all  the  children  of  his  charge;  and  he  remembered 
them  in  his  daily  prayers,  especially  in  his  private  pleadings 
before  the  mercy-seat.  Could  that  little  hook  he  found,  it 
might  furnish  an  explanation  of  the  active  agencies  which 
have  produced  so  many  instances  of  notable  piety  amongst 
those  who  in  childhood  enjoyed  his  counsels.  M;my  of  those 
children  have  grown  up  to  years  of  maturity,  are  fathers  and 
mothers  themselves,  yet  they  will  never  forget — they  never 
can  forget  the  benignant  glance,  the  gentle  voice,  the  loving 
6mile  of  "Uncle  Kennedy." 

The  Divine  character  of  Christianity  is  strikingly  exhibited 


WILLIAM    M.     KENNEDY.  145 

in  its  evolutionary  power.  The  latency  of  that  power  does 
not  prove  its  abridgment.  It  is  latent  or  active,  as  unerring 
Wisdom  may  demand,  in  effectuating  the  purposes  of  God 
on  earth.  The  partial  concealment  of  the  evolutionary  capa- 
bilities of  Christianity  may  perplex  human  reason ;  but  God, 
who  knows  how  and  when  to  furnish  the  interpretation  of 
his  own  providential  movements,  will,  in  due  time,  unravel 
the  mysterious  problem.  We  may  not  be  able  to  apprehend 
the  reasons  which  induced  the  Almighty  to  withhold  from 
men  the  full  measure  of  religious  knowledge  and  privilege 
for  four  thousand  years,  which  induced  him  to  permit  the 
infant  Church  to  suffer  persecution,  almost  to  extinction,  and 
which  caused  him  to  suffer  the  "dark  ages"  to  mantle  his 
"spouse"  in  mourning  drapery;  still,  every  succeeding  eccle- 
siastical epoch  casts  additional  light  on  the  past,  and  every 
triumph  of  the  Church  over  her  adversaries,  varying,  as  they 
always  have  done,  each  succeeding  manoeuvre,  serves  to  call 
forth,  in  unwonted  measures,  her  evolutionary  power.  In 
this  way,  the  "dark  ages" — a  night  of  nine  hundred  years' 
duration — afforded  an  occasion  to  the  Church  for  the  exhibi- 
tion of  her  strength  in  the  "Reformation ;"  while  the  apathy 
and  corruption  of  the  Anglican  Church,  in  the  beginning  of 
the  last  century,  called  forth  Christianity  in  her  Methodistic 
form.  Methodism  is  Christianity.  It  is  Christianity  freed 
from  all  superstitious  forms — from  all  legendary  rites.  It  is 
the  manhood  of  Christianity,  in  which  new  measures  of  the 
latent  energy  of  the  gospel  are  evolved,  and  in  which  the 
adaptability  of  the  governmental  forms  of  the  Church  of 
Christ  to  the  wants  and  capabilities  of  all  classes  of  society, 
and  all  nations,  however  benighted,  is  wonderfully  exhibited. 
One  peculiarity  in  the  organism  of  this  form  of  Christianity 
is  the  office  of  Presiding  Elder.  It  is  peculiar  to  Episcopal 
10 


146  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Methodism  in  America.  As  Methodism  is  regarded  the  off- 
spring of  Divine  Providence,  and  as  the  necessities  of  the 
Church  demanded  the  office  of  Presiding  Elder,  the  provision 
to  meet  the  emergency  is  justly  considered  a  providential 
work.  The  Presiding  Eldership  is  certainly  an  indispensable 
adjunct  to  an  itinerating  Episcopacy.  Diocesan  Episcopacy 
may  dispense  with  it;  but  by  how  much  the  feeble  eifort 
made  for  its  abolishment  in  the  economy  of  American 
Methodism  may  succeed,  by  BO  much  will  the  effort  tend  to 
Diocesan  Episcopacy.  An  itinerant  Episcopacy  demands  a 
comparatively  local  representative,  invested  with  the  func- 
tions of  the  Episcopal  office,  under  ample  and  specified  restric- 
tions. Such  a  representative  is  found  in  a  Presiding  Elder. 
This  relation  to  the  Church  is  one  of  vast  responsibility ; 
and  in  the  early  years  of  American  Methodism  the  incum- 
bent was  Bubjected  to  unmeasured  toils  and  sufferings. 
William   M.    Kennedy   served    the    Church    in    this    relation 

fifteen  years.    lie  was  appointed   to  the   Charleston  (first 

called  Saluda,  then  Edisto)  District,  in  1811,  1812,  and  1813; 
to  the  Pedee  District,  in  1814,  1815,  1816,  1817,  1822,  1823, 
1824,  and  1825;  and  to  the  Columbia  District,  in  1830,  1831, 
1832,  and  1883. 

His  first  District  extended  west  of  Charleston  nearly  two 
hundred  miles.  Ilis  residence  being  in  the  city,  and  having 
to  reach  his  other  appointments  in  a  private  conveyance,  he 
was  necessarily  exposed  both  to  fatigue  and  the  most  malig- 
nant disease.  There  is  a  belt  of  low  land,  many  leagues  in 
width,  surrounding  the  city  of  Charleston.  Leaving  the  city 
in  a  private  conveyance,  the  traveller  is  obliged  to  spend  a 
night  in  this  miasmatic  district.  The  medical  fraternity  of 
Charleston  had  decided  that  to  sleep  in  this  region  of  disease 
a  single  night  exposed  the  sleeper  to  an  attack  of  "  country 


WILLIAM    M.     KENNEDY.  147 

fever;"  and  there  was  more  truth  than  fiction  in  the  decision. 
The  "country  fever"  was  considered  scarcely  less  fatal  than 
the  yellow  fever,  and  was  perhaps  equally  unyielding  to 
medical  skill.  But  what  shall  our  Presiding  Elder  do  ?  Shall 
he  quail  before  danger,  and  skulk  away  ?  lie  never  did.  He 
seems  to  have  adopted  the  motto  of  Dr.  Adam  Clarke :  "A 
minister  is  immortal  until  his  work  is  done."  lie  put  his 
trust  in  God,  and  learned  to  say  from  the  heart,  "  Thy  will 
be  done." 

He  did  not,  however,  consider  that  his  work  as  a  Presiding 
Elder  was  accomplished  when  he  had  preached,  and  had 
finished  the  business  of  the  Quarterly  Conference.  He  knew 
that  "in  the  absence  of  the  bishop"  it  was  his  duty  to 
"take  charge  of  all  the  elders  and  deacons,  travelling  and 
local  preachers,  and  exhorters,  in  his  district,"  to  see  "that 
every  part  of  the  Discipline  be  enforced,"  and  "to  oversee 
the  spiritual  and  temporal  business  of  the  Church."  This 
work  employed  his  hands,  his  head,  and  his  heart.  With 
what  solicitude  did  he  look  upon  the  poor  brother  minister 
who,  like  himself,  had  "left  all" — whether  little  or  much — 
to  do  the  Master's  work,  and  who,  with  his  family,  through 
the  poverty  or  parsimony  of  his  charge,  was  left  to  subsist  on 
a  mere  pittance  !  His  generous  heart  would  not  allow  him  to 
witness  such  a  spectacle  with  indifference.  He  was  always 
ready  to  sympathize  with  such  a  co-laborer,  and  to  divide 
with  him  the  last  morsel  of  bread. 

He  conducted  himself  toward  the  aged  ministers  of  the 
Church  with  respectful  deference  and  unreserved  affection. 
And,  while  he  did  all  in  his  power  for  the  men  who  were 
actively  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  with  him,  he 
manifested  special  solicitude  for  the  superannuated  ministers 
of  the  Conference.     He  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  and 


148  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

liberal  managers  of  the  Trust  which  had  been  created  by  the 
Conference  for  their  special  benefit. 

The  junior  preachers  on  his  District  found  in  him  a  faith- 
ful friend  and  a  safe  counsellor — one  whose  guidance  might 
always  be  trusted. 

The  mode  of  ministerial  training  adopted  by  the  Church 
invests  the  office  of  the  Presiding  Elder  with  special  import- 
ance, lie  holds  to  the  junior  preachers  of  his  charge  the 
relation  of  exemplar  and  preceptor;  and  his  fidelity  or  un- 
faithful cess  does  a  great  deal  toward  fixing  the  destiny  of 
these  yonng  nun.  Scores  have  commenced  a  ministerial 
career  with  the  most  flattering  prospects,  but  through  the  in- 
attention or  incantiousness  of  their  Presiding  Elders  have 
made  limited  progress,  or  have  retired  to  hopeless  obscurity. 
Our  brother  acquitted  himself  in  this  department  of  duty 
with  rare  ability,  lie  to<>k  the  young  ministers  under  his 
care  by  the  hand,  with  a  cordiality  peculiar  to  himself  ad- 
mitted them  into  confidential  relations,  and  spoke  to  them 
with  fatherly  affection,  thus  gaining  their  respect  and  con- 
fidence: he  would  point  out  th*ir  defects,  and  Bhow  them  the 
remedy:  he  would  unfold  the  privileges  of  the  gospel,  urge 
them  to  a  more  enlarged  experience  of  grace,  and  assist  them 
in  choosing  the  best  mode  of  preaching  the  gospeL  From 
such  interviews,  the  tyro  in  theology  went  forth  with  new 
acquisitions  of  knowledge,  with  an  improved  experience,  and 
an  increase  of  zeal  in  the  work  of  the  Lord. 

His  influence  in  the  Quarterly  Conference  was  largely 
beneficial  to  the  Church.  Laymen  and  local  preachers  are 
united  with  the  travelling  ministry  in  this  primary  judicatory 
for  the  transaction  of  the  business  of  the  Church.  The  man- 
ner in  which  the  presiding  officer  discharges  his  duty  does 
much  to  unite  or  alienate  these  elements  of  our  ecclesiastical 


WILLIAM    M.     KENNEDY.  149 

organization.  William  M.  Kennedy's  conduct  on  such  occa- 
sions is  worthy  of  all  commendation.  Courteous  and  meek 
as  he  was,  he  could  not  fail  to  secure  the  esteem  of  all,  and 
to  succeed  admirably  in  harmonizing  any  discordancy  which 
might  arise  amongst  his  brethren  in  transacting  the  business 
of  the  Church.  As  a  proof  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was 
held  by  his  brethren,  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Con- 
ference, at  the  session  in  Fayetteville,  ~N.  C,  January,  1831 — 
no  Bishop  being  present  on  that  occasion. 

Having  now  served  the  Church,  either  as  circuit  preacher, 
stationed  preacher,  or  presiding  elder,  for  more  than  thirty 
years,  with  so  much  fidelity  and  success  as  to  secure  her 
affection  and  unqualified  confidence,  and  as  the  services  of 
such  a  man  were  needed  in  another  department  of  labor,  he 
consented  to  act  as  agent  for  Cokesbury  School  in  1838  and 
1839. 

The  circumstances  under  which  he  commenced  this  work 
were  somewhat  peculiar  and  embarrassing.  The  South  Caro- 
lina Conference  had  determined,  in  1834,  to  endow  a  Profes- 
sorship in  Eandolph  Macon  College.  An  efficient  agent  had 
been  appointed  to  collect  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  that 
purpose.  There  had  been  an  agent  appointed  in  1835  to 
make  collections  in  behalf  of  Cokesbury  School.  These 
agents  had  travelled  through  the  Conference  limits  for  the 
two  or  three  preceding  years ;  and  the  appeals  which  they 
had  made  in  behalf  of  the  educational  interests  of  the  Church 
had  been  so  eloquently  and  successfully  pressed  upon  the 
people,  that  it  required  a  man  of  eminent  ability  to  enter 
upon  this  work  at  such  a  juncture  with  any  hope  of  success. 
The  new  incumbent  had  passed  through  an  ordeal  which 
qualified  him  for  the  task.  He  had  taken  many  a  lesson  in 
domestic  economy  under  the  pressure  of  the  circumstances 


150  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

attendant  upon  the  married  life  of  an  early  itinerant  minister. 
"While  he  was  a  single  man,  he  found  it  comparatively  an 

matter  to  provide  for  his  personal  wants;  but  when  lie 
became  a  married  man,  a  new  class  of  difficulties  appeared; 
and  his  embarrassmente  multiplied  as  Lis  family  increased. 
Ac  b  man  of  aagacity  and  refinement,  he  felt  bound  not  only 
to  furnish  a  romp. 'tent  support  for  hie  family,  but  to  educate 
them  also.  And  while  from  principle  he  avoided  an  extrava- 
gant outlay  in  this  direction,  still  his  generous  spirit  would 
not  Buffer  his  household  to  he  subjected  t<>  discomfort  while 
he  had  a  farthing  at  command.  The  provisions  made  by  the 
Chureh  were  often  insufficient  t.i  meet  tin-.'  reasonable 
wants.  Tin-  most  rigid  economy  compatible  with  domestic 
comfort  failed  t<»  make  receipts  from  this  source  equal  to  the 
necessary  expenditures.  Still  he  did  not  murmur.  Tie  did 
not  pursue  his  financial  hoard  with  harsh  epithets  and  bitter 
complaints.  Never!  Wheneverit  became  necessary  to  make 
any  communication  to  hi-  stewards,  it  was  done  with  frank- 

and  magnanimity;  and  if  the  supplies  were  still  insuffi- 
cient, lie  would  trench  npon  his  private  resources,  both  prin- 
cipal and  interest. 
A  bosom  friend  of  his,  in  a  letter  just  received,  says:  "I 

have  ..ft. mi  heard  him  say  that  he  was  willing  to  Buffer  priva- 
tions himself^  hut  he  would  not  Bubject  his  family  to  them. 
He  constantly  practiced  self-denial,  hut  Looked  with  unabafc  1 
care  to  the  wants  of  his  household;  and  any  convenience  or 
comfort  his  purse  could  reach  was  theirs.  Such  thin- 
are  usually  provided  in  parsonages,  if  lacking,  he  Buppliedj 
whether  reimhursed  hy  the  Church  or  not.  I  have  heard  him 
state  repeatedly  that  for  a  number  of  years  his  private  re- 
sources had  been  annually  diminished  to  meet  the  wants  of 
his  family.     Still  he  never  complained,  nor  swerved  from  the 


WILLIAM    M.    KENNEDY.  151 

path  of  duty,  'for  lie  had  respect  unto  the  recompense  of 
the  reward.'  " 

Such  a  man  could  go  forth  as  an  agent  for  the  Church,  and 
his  gleanings  would  be  equal  to  the  harvest  of  others  less 
skilful  in  economical  matters  and  the  equation  of  charitable 
claims. 

He  conceived  a  plan  which,  if  effectuated,  would  relieve 
the  institution  of  all  pecuniary  embarrassment.  The  sum 
needed  was  to  be  raised  by  procuring  a  sufficient  number  of 
persons  who  would  give  a  note  for  one  hundred  dollars  re- 
spectively, bearing  interest  from  date ;  and  while  the  interest 
alone  should  be  collectable,  the  subscriber  had  the  privilege 
of  paying  the  principal  before  his  death ;  but  should  he  pay 
the  interest  alone  during  his  life,  then,  after  his  death,  the 
terms  of  the  subscription  made  the  principal  collectable  also. 
The  plan  succeeded,  and  secured  to  the  school  a  handsome 
income. 

This  was  the  last  work  he  performed  as  an  effective  minis- 
ter, closing  a  career  of  usefulness  in  the  advocacy  of  en- 
lightened piety — Christianity  and  literature  blended — a  suit- 
able work  for  "a  man  of  God." 

If  the  civic  panegyrist  is  sustained  in  seeking  an  archetype 
for  his  friend  amongst  the  poets,  philosophers,  or  statesmen 
of  antiquity,  claiming  for  his  mind  a  Roman  or  Grecian 
mould,  may  not  the  biographer  of  the  Christian  minister  seek 
an  apostolic  model  ?  It  might  be  asked  with  propriety,  who 
can  trace  the  character  of  William  M.  Kennedy  without 
thinking  of  the  Apostle  John  ? 

Some  men  are  distinguished  for  their  fertility  of  imagina- 
tion, others  for  their  retentiveness  of  memory,  and  others  for 
their  volubility.  While  it  is  not  claimed  for  this  venerable 
man  that  he  excelled  in  mental  force,  learning,  or  eloquence, 


1.52  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

it  is  confidently  claimed  that  the  elements  of  ministerial 
greatness  were  combined  La  him  in  an  eminent  degree. 

lie  had  a  peculiarly  well-balanced  mind.  His  perception 
was  not  quick,  it  is  true,  yet  it  was  nice:  his  judgment  was 
somewhat  tardy  iii  prosecuting  it.-  ta-k;  still,  when  the  work 
done,  it  rarely  required  emendation:  he  formed  his 
Opinions  deliberately,  and  scarcely  ever  found  it  necessary  to 
change  them;  and  such  was  his  discretion,  that,  in  the 
various  responsible  relations  he  sustained  to  the  Church,  it  is 
questionable  whether  a  single  instance  of  rashness  could  be 
justly  charged  14M.11  him. 

Prudent,  sagacious,  and  wise  in  counsel,  he  was  well  pre- 
pared to  Berve  the  Church  in  her  highest  judicatory.  And 
the  South  Carolina  Conference  manifested  her  appreciation 
of  his  merit  by  selecting  him  as  one  of  her  representatives 
in  the  first  delegated  General  Conference  held  for  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 

lie  had  graduated  to  elder's  orders  two  years  prior  t<>  this 
election,  yet  he  was  deemed  worthy  to  take  his  place  in  the 
highest  council  of  the  Church  with  her  ablest  divines.  And 
in  each  similar  quadrennial  election,  he  was  thus  honored  by 
his  brethren  during  the  remainder  of  his  effective  ministerial 
life.  Hence,  it  i.^  burly  inferred  that  his  popularity  was 
based  on  real  merit,  possessed  in  an  extraordinary  measure. 

Doubtless,  his  sociability  contributed  alike  to  his  happi- 
.  usefulness,  and  popularity.  He  was  fond  of  society,  yet 
he  was  prudent  in  his  social  intercourse.  He  was  courteous 
to  all,  while  he  selected  confidential  friends  with  caution. 
While  he  was  remarkable  for  his  frankness,  his  affability  ami 
childlike  artlessness  combined  made  him  a  general  favorite. 

He  was  sufficiently  retired  in  his  habits  for  eminent  piety, 
still  his  social  disposition  forbade  his  being  a  recluse.     His 


WILLIAM    M.     KENNEDY.  153 

proclivity  in  this  direction  led  him  to  seek  a  bosom  friend. 
As  in  every  thing  else,  so  in  this,  his  movements  were 
marked  with  pious  caution.  Relying  upon  Divine  guidance, 
his  way  was  opened  for  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss 
Abigail  Young,  of  Sumter  District,  S.  C.  She  was  a  lady  of 
exemplary  piety,  prudence,  and  intelligence,  and  was  well 
qualified  to  act  the  part  of  an  itinerant  minister's  wife.  But 
in  this  instance  his  conjugal  felicity  was  destined  to  a  speedy 
termination.  Two  years  had  not  passed  before  the  hand  of 
death  snatched  her  from  his  side,  and  introduced  her  into 
the  presence  of  the  glorified  Saviour.  Such,  however,  was 
his  confidence  in  God,  that  he  endured  the  visitation  with 
humble  submission,  and  continued  in  his  appropriate  work 
with  unabated  zeal. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  as  demonstrative  of  his  unworldli- 
ness,  that,  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  he  returned  to  her 
father  a  handsome  estate  which  he  had  inherited  by  her, 
alleging  as  his  reason  for  returning  it  his  inability,  as  a  tra- 
velling minister,  to  supervise  the  spiritual  interests  of  the 
servants.  After  a  sufficient  time  had  elapsed  for  the  poig- 
nancy of  his  grief  to  abate,  he  sought  and  obtained  the  hand 
and  affections  of  Miss  Ann  M.  Jones,  daughter  of  Mr. 
"William  Jones,  of  Wilmington,  !N".  C.  Her  parents  having 
died  while  she  was  quite  young,  she  was  educated  under  the 
oversight  of  an  uncle,  whose  house  was  her  home.  This 
estimable  man  did  for  her  all  that  a  pious  father  could  do ; 
and  she  profited  greatly  by  the  privileges  she  enjoyed.  She 
grew  up  in  the  paths  of  piety,  and  consecrated  herself  to 
God  with  an  unreservedness  which  is  worthy  of  all  com- 
mendation. 

It  is  too  often  the  case  that  those  who  are  brought  up  in 
affluence  are  swayed  by  the  spirit  of  the  world.     She  was  an 


154  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

exception.  The  blandishments  of  worldly  pleasures  had  no 
power  over  her  heart.  Jesus,  to  whom  she  had  surrendered 
it,  reigned  over  it;  and  it  was  her  chief  delight  to  do  his 
will.  It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that  she  consented  to 
share  the  varying  fortunes  of  an  itinerant  minister,  under  a 
conviction  that  duty  demanded  the-  sacrifice.  In  this  choice 
"William  M.  Kennedy  was  peculiarly  fortunate.  Her  spirit 
was  congenial  to  hia  own.    Pious,  intelligent,  amiable,  and 

prudent,  she  was    for  him  "a  help  meet"  indeed.      Although 

the  patrimony  left  to  her  by  her  father,  added  to  her  hus- 
band's, would  have  been  ample  both  for  happiness  and  com- 
fort iu  any  ordinary  occupation,  it  annually  diminished  by 
the  necessary  drain  upon  it,  made  to  meet  the  deficiencies  of 
the  provisions  made  by  the  Church,    she  witnessed  all  this 

without  a  murmur,  and  rejoiced  that  her  husband  and  herself 

had  been  "counted  worthy  to  Buffer"  for  Christ's  Bake. 

They  lived  in  happy  union  several  years.  These  were 
years  both  of  pleasure  and  responsibility;  for  while  the 
claim-  of  the  Church  pressed  heavily  upon  them,  a  new  class 
of  obligations  Bprang  up.  God  gave  them  lovely  children, 
who  were  to  be  trained  to  his  glory.  They  were  dedicated  to 
him  in  baptism;  and  in  the  daily  prayers  of  these  pious 
parents  their  children  were  consecrated  to  God. 

They  felt,  however,  that  their  work  was  not  yet  finished. 
Their  children  must  be  governed.  This  is  a  difficult  task  even 
under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  especially  so  with  an 
itinerant  minister.  He  is  often  absent  from  home,  at  which 
time  that  work  which  properly  belongs  to  both  parents  de- 
volve- ..n  the  mother  alone ;  and  when  he  returns  home,  the 
pleasure  he  feels  in  meeting  his  family  i<  apt  to  induce  for- 
bearance,  when, perhaps,  correction  is  Deeded.  And  it  some- 
times happens  that  incautious  friends  encourage  those  things 


WILLIAM    M.     KENNEDY.  155 

in  children  which  a  Christian  parent  should  condemn,  thus 
making  the  government  of  his  children  still  more  difficult. 
The  Christian  minister  feels  the  force  of  these  and  kindred 
circumstances ;  and  the  warm  heart  of  William  M.  Kennedy- 
may  not  have  been  full  proof  against  them  at  all  times ;  still 
he  governed  his  household  with  Christian  meekness  and 
manly  vigor. 

No  pious  parent  is  satisfied,  however,  with  blameless  mo- 
rality and  religious  punctuality  alone  in  his  children.  He 
desires  to  see  them  converted.  Hence,  this  man  of  God  sought 
devoutly  this  blessing  for  his  children ;  and  although  his 
prayers  might  seem  unavailing  for  the  time,  yet  God  put  his 
"tears  into  his  bottle,"  and  recorded  his  prayers  in  the 
"book  of  his  remembrance." 

Incorrigible  indifference  may  render  the  most  powerful 
prayers  nugatory;  but  the  prayer  of  faith  secures  every 
needed  blessing  for  the  contrite  soul.  How  must  the  glori- 
fied spirit  of  this  "man  of  God"  rejoice  as  he  looks  down 
upon  his  fatherless  children  and  sees  them  walking  in  wds- 
dom's  way ! 

He  was  not  assisted  in  the  godly  work  of  training  these 
children  for  heaven  to  the  time  of  his  death  by  their  own 
mother.  This  estimable  lady,  who  had  been  to  him  an  angel 
of  mercy  so  long,  was  taken  to  her  reward  in  heaven  a  few 
years  prior  to  his  own  death. 

Along  with  her  sickness  and  death  there  came  a  dark 
cloud,  which  hung  portentously  over  his  social  prospects. 
She  left  him  under  circumstances  unlike  any  through  which 
he  had  passed.  He  was  now  somewhat  advanced  in  life.  He 
had  a  family  of  seven  children,  some  of  whom  were  quite 
young,  others  of  an  age  in  which  the  character  is  formed. 
His  presence  is  needed  constantly  to  govern  and  guide ;  and 


156  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

the  task  is  doubly  difficult.  There  is  now  no  mother's  gentle 
rebuke  to  restrain,  nor  smile  to  soothe  his  children.  How 
could  he  leave  then  1 1  How  could  he  meet  their  wants  alone  ? 
He  felt  that  he  could  not  perform  this  work  unaided.  But  to 
provide  for  the  emergency  required  the  exercise  of  a  pure 
heart,  a  mature  judgment,  guided  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  If 
it  were  practicable  for  his  Lacerated  affections  to  be  healed, 
and  it'  it  were  possible  for  him  to  find  another  whom  he  could 
tenderly  love,  and  who  would  reciprocate  his  affection,  yet 
to  find  such  a  one  who  would  at  the  same  time  perform  the 
pari  of  a  mother  to  his  children,  was  not  an  easy  matter. 
He  fell  that  he  could  only  hold  his  will  subordinate  to  the 
will  of  God,  and  await  the  indications  of  his  providence. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century,  the  Huguenots 
(or  French  Protestants)  suffered  Bad  reverses  by  the  revoca- 
tion of  the  edict  of  Nantes.  Thousands  of  pious  families 
suffered  exile.  A  descendant  of  one  of  these  families  now 
lives  in  Wilmington,  K".  C.  Dr.  A.  J.  DeEossel  is  an  old 
man — nearly  eighty-nine  years  of  age.  His  daughter,  Catha- 
rine, inherited  the  noble  spirit  which  her  ancestors  poss<  --■  d. 
Her  religions  independence  and  conscientious  Bcruples  were 
nicely  adjusted  and  placed  under  the  control  of  a  well-culti- 
vated mind  and  a  mature  judgment.  Her  religious  prefer- 
-  Led  her  away  from  the  ecclesiastical  association  of  her 
forefathers,  and  .-he  became  a  consistent,  persevering  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She  commenced  her 
religious  life  with  a  purpose,  deliberately  formed,  to  do  the 
will  of  God  at  any  cost.  Ami  her  manner  of  life  has  fur- 
nished, and  still  furnishes,  an  apt  illustration  of  Huguenot 
firmness.  Her  qualifications  to  hold  maternal  relationship  to 
the  motherless  children  of  William  M.  Kennedy  would  not 
be  «piestioned  by  any  who  knew  her  well;  but  whether  she 


WILLIAM    M.     KENNEDY.  157 

would  consent  to  hold  that  relation  remained  untested.  He 
knew  that  should  she  consider  it  consonant  with  the  will  of 
God,  every  thing  else  would  yield  to  that  paramount  con- 
sideration. The  subject  was  carried  before  God  in  the  spirit 
of  meekness ;  and  a  conviction  of  duty  led  to  an  effectuation 
of  his  purposes.  This  devout  couple  were  united  in  holy 
wedlock  on  the  25th  of  October,  1835.  The  godly  work  of 
training  these  children  for  heaven  had  been  carried  on  for 
years  by  their  sainted  mother.  At  her  death,  the  maternal 
department  ceased  for  a  season :  it  was  now  to  be  resumed. 
And  while  this  pious  lady  commenced  the  work  with  trepida- 
tion, arising  from  an  apprehended  disqualification  for  it,  yet, 
having  as  delicate  an  appreciation  of  her  responsibilities  as 
any  stepmother  ever  had,  and  relying  for  aid  upon  God  alone, 
she  commenced  and  continued  in  this  work  with  a  rare  mea- 
sure of  success.  Her  husband  and  herself  were  a  unit  in  the 
work  of  governing,  instructing,  and  praying  for  these  chil- 
dren. It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that  they  should  grow 
up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 

The  eldest  daughter,  who  had  become  the  wife  of  a  mem- 
ber of  the  South  Carolina  Conference,  and  who  was  a  model 
of  filial  affection,  of  conjugal  love  and  Christian  piety,  passed 
away  from  earth  to  her  heavenly  home  before  her  father. 

Some  of  the  other  children  are  pious  and  useful  members 
of  the  Church  so  loved  and  admired  by  their  sainted  father. 
How  could  they  act  otherwise  with  such  an  example  before 
them  ? — the  example  of  one  who  while  on  earth  had  perhaps 
as  few  faults  as  any  other  man,  and  who,  "  being  dead,  yet 
speaketh"  to  them,  and  to  all  who  have  known  him,  the 
words  of  truth,  and,  by  an  impersonation  of  the  elements  of 
a  virtuous  life,  now  for  ever  closed  in  its  terrestrial  form,  sets 
forth  both  the  excellency  and  power  of  gospel  grace. 


158  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

It  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  doting  parents  and  friends  to 
see,  or  think  they  see,  in  those  they  love,  augural  traits 
which  mark  them  out  for  a  noble  destiny.  In  some  cases, 
the  augury  owes  its  existence  wildly  to  the  imagination;  in 
others,  native  talent  may  furnish  precocious  developments. 
The  relatives  of  young  Kennedy  were  right  in  their  calcula- 
tions respecting  his  destiny.  Their  hopes  of  him  were  high  ; 
and  there  seemed  to  have  been  just  grounds  for  such  hopes. 
A  gentleman  says,  that  while  yei  a  boy,  "he  manifested  re- 
markable  amiability,  discreetness,  magnanimity,  and  a  true 

nobility  of  nature.      lie   was    | BSSed    of   many   traits    of 

character  which  marked  him  ou1  as  a  youth  of  uncommon 
promise."  Howevermueh  the  judgmenl  may  be  swayed  by 
the  imagination  in  forming  an  opinion  of  the  "inner  man'' 
by  the  physiqw ,  it  La  certain  that  there  is  Buch  an  intimacy  be- 
tween them  that  tin'  latter  does  furnish  indications  of  the 
character  of  the  former.  Hence,  when  Samuel  went  to  the 
house  of  Jesse  to  anoint  a  successor  to  Saul,  all  the  elder 
sons  passed  before  him  without  impressing  him  by  their  out- 
ward appearance.  But  when  David  came,  he  had  44a  beauti- 
ful countenance,"  and  the  prophet  was  so  impressed  by  his 
appearance  that  he  instantly  anointed  him  king  in  the  room 
of  Saul. 

Young  Kennedy  was  not  "beautiful  ;"  still  he  was  comely. 
lie  was  of  medium  stature,  and  well  formed.  In  advanced 
life,  he  became  somewhat  corpulent. 

In  the  original  oil-painting,  from  which  the  accompanying 
likeness  is  taken,  the  artist  has  failed  to  do  him  justice. 
The  contour  of  his  face  is  drawn  with  sufficient  distinct: 
to  call  up  his  image  in  the  mind  of  a  familiar  friend  ;  but  the 
I  is  Badly  defective.  Tie'  eye,  in  the  picture,  wants 
the  benignity  and  intelligence  of  the  original ;  and  the  phy-i- 


WILLIAM    M.    KENNEDY.  159 

ognomic  blending  of  month  and  eyes  lacks  the  smile  which 
his  face  usually  wore.  With  these  exceptions,  the  facial  de- 
lineations are  sufficiently  correct. 

The  physiologist  will  readily  perceive  that  such  a  form  as 
the  likeness  represents  would  be  peculiarly  liable  to  apoplec- 
tic attacks.  Perhaps  no  man  possessed  a  more  robust  frame 
than  William  M.  Kennedy.  He  was,  withal,  prudent  and 
abstemious  in  his  habits.  Hence,  with  God's  blessing,  he 
labored  hard,  holding  no  other  than  an  effective  relation  to 
the  Conference  for  thirty-three  years.  But  there  are  forms 
of  disease  against  which  neither  human  sagacity  nor  pru- 
dence can  protect  us.  It  was  reserved,  in  the  providence  of 
God,  for  our  brother  to  fall  by  the  agency  of  such  an  attack. 
The  first  marked  approach  of  the  disease  was  manifested  in 
1839 ;  and  at  the  close  of  this  year  he  was  placed  in  a  super- 
annuated relation  to  the  Conference.  He  did  not,  even  then, 
ask  this  relation.  He  would  have  preferred  to  hold  an  effect- 
ive relation  to  the  Church;  but  his  brethren  chose  the 
former  for  him,  and  he  meekly  yielded  his  judgment  to 
theirs. 

It  has  been  said  that  it  requires  more  strength  and  piety  to 
leave  the  stage  of  active  life  gracefully  than  it  does  to  ascend 
it.  "While  yet  the  proud  eminence  is  before  us,  the  energies 
of  life  are  full  of  vigor,  and  its  horizon  spreads  out  broadly, 
inviting  us  to  long-continued  labor  and  renown,  an  inspira- 
tion comes  upon  us  which  knows  no  abatement  while  the 
faculties  God  has  given  us  remain  unimpaired.  But  when 
the  rapid  flight  of  years,  blended  with  long-continued  labor, 
has  impaired  life's  machinery,  and  the  eye  grows  dim,  the 
locks  turn  gray,  the  cheeks  are  furrowed,  the  limbs  tremu- 
lous, and  the  whole  man  is  bending  toward  the  grave,  who, 
under  such  circumstances,  feels  the  inspiration  peculiar  to 


160  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

manhood's  prime?  Yet,  man  is  even  then  unwilling  to  ac- 
knowledge nature's  decline!  Even  grace  tails,  in  Borne  in- 
stances, to  remove  our  reluctancy  to  make  the  admission. 
"While  the  aged  minister  may  feel  the  aversion  common  to 
our  nature  to  retire  into  childlike  inaction,  there  arc  other 
potent  considerations  which  contribute  to  its  Btrength.  His 
soul  has  felt,  it  still  feels,  the  love  of  Christ  constraining 
him  to  labor  in  his  Master's  vineyard:  he  Bees  a  world  in 
ruin,  the  Church  laboring  for  the  world's  salvation  :  he  hears 
his  ''Captain's"  voice  calling  the  sons  of  the  Church  to 
valorous  deeds,  and  the  shouts  of  victory  as  they  rise  from 
tin*  lips  of  the  Bacramenta]  host,  in  swelling  tones,  to  heaven  ! 
His  soul  is  moved  within  him,  and  he  frowns  from  his  pres- 
ence the  laggard  spirit!  How  can  such  a  man  consent  to  be 
"laid  aside"  as  a  useless  thing ?  Sow  can  such  a  soldier 
consent  to  put  his  armor  by,  and  cease  to  fight  the  battles  of 

the  Lord,  while  a  ve-tige  of  Strength  remains?  Kveii  the 
meek  spirit  of  "William  M.  Kennedy  found  the  ordeal  diffi- 
cult to  pass,  yet  he  passed  it  gracefully,  lie  calmly  bowed 
to  I  haven's  behest.  lie  labored,  however,  after  his  super- 
annuation as  much  as  he  could — perhaps  more  than  prudence 
would  have  dictated.  And  when  urged  to  moderate  his  exer- 
tions, lie  would  mildly  reply,  "It  is  better  to  wear  out  than 
to  rust  out.  I  wish  the  messenger  of  death  to  find  me  at  my 
Master's  work."  Ilere  is  fidelity!  Here  is  zeal  worthy  of 
imitation  !  And  here  is  Christian  manliness,  which  the  final 
Judge  will  delight  to  honor ! 

It  would  be  unreasonable  to  expect  such  a  man  to  leave  the 
stage  of  active  ministerial  life  with  indifference.  After  his 
superannuation,  he  seemed  more  depressed  in  spirit  than  ever 
before,  yet  there  was  no  scowl  upon  his  brow,  DO  angry  emo- 
tion quivered  upon  his  lips;  but,  feeling  implicit  confidence 


WILLIAM    M.    KENNEDY.  161 

in  the  judgment  of  his  brethren,  and  resignation  to  the  will 
of  God,  he  retired  gracefully  from  the  platform  of  public  ex- 
ertion, where  he  had  performed  his  part  so  well. 

The  action  of  the  Church  in  his  case  seemed  to  harmonize 
completely  with  the  providence  of  God — only  a  few  months 
ensuing  between  his  superannuation  and  death;  as  though 
God  intended  the  way-worn  pilgrim  to  have  a  little  repose 
prior  to  his  departure  to  his  eternal  home,  in  which  he  might 
set  his  house  in  order,  and  take  leave  of  his  friends  below. 

After  the  close  of  Conference,  he  improved  in  health  a 
little,  but  constantly  affirmed  that  it  would  not  last  long.  He 
felt  that  his  work  was  nearly  at  an  end. 

To  witness  the  death  of  such  a  Christian  minister  would 
be  a  privilege  indeed.  We  feel  a  desire  rising  in  the  heart 
to  be  in  the  chamber  where  he  meets  his  fate,  to  see  the 
manifestations  of  his  patience  in  suifermg,  his  meek  submis- 
sion to  the  Divine  will,  his  holy  courage,  as 

"Against  the  cross  death's  iron  sceptre  breaks;" 

while  his  holy  soul  exclaims :  "  I  am  now  ready  to  be  of- 
fered"— "The  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand" — "  0  death, 
where  is  thy  sting?  0  grave,  where  is  thy  victory?" — 
"  Thanks  be  to  God  which  giveth  us  the  victory,  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ."  But  in  his  case  the  privilege  was  denied 
to  all.  His  desire  "to  be  found  doing  his  Master's  work 
when  the  messenger  of  death  should  come"  was  granted. 
He  was  journeying  in  the  service  of  the  Church,  in  company 
with  a  friend  or  two.  They  had  stopped  for  the  night  at  the 
house  of  his  friend,  Dr.  Moon,  of  Newberry  District,  S.  C. 
Next  morning,  he  walked  out  early  to  make  some  arrange- 
ment for  the  journey  of  the  day,  when  he  was  overcome  by 

an  apoplectic  stroke,  from  which  he  never  recovered  even 
11 


162  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

strength  enough  to  speak,  hut,  in  a  moment,  passed  from  the 
sorrows  of  earth  to  the  joys  of  heaven. 

As  in  his  life,  so  in  his  death,  he  preached  to  others,  "both 
encouraging  and  warning  theni.  Although  he  was  not  per- 
mitted to  leave  a  dying  testimony  in  words,  yet  the  Church 
has  strong  hope  of  his  salvation;  for,  as  in  the  case  of  St. 
Paul,  BO  in  his,  an  appeal  to  "his  manner  of  life"  confirms 
his  claim  to  a  ripe  experience  of  grace.  Having  obtained 
pardon  in  early  life,  he  grew  in  grace  as  be  advanced  in 
year--,  and  donbtless  he  possessed  the  blessing  of  "perfect 
love."  Hi-  bereaved  widow  writes :  "That  he  enjoyed  this 
blessing  I  am  quite  sure.  Hi-  daily,  hourly  walk  and  con- 
versation gave  evidence  of  this,  during  my  acquaintance  with 
him.  I  do  not  know  that  I  ever  saw  him  raffled  in  temper 
in  the  slightest  degree.  I  have  seen  him  under  strong  provo- 
cation, kind  and  persuasive,  gentle  in  word  and  benignanl  in 
look,  exert  an  indescribable  influence  over  the  unruly  pas- 
sions  of  all  who  were  brought  within  its  reach."  Again,  she 
:  '-Although  he  loved  to  dwell  on  the  riches  of  God's 
goodness,  he  seldom  spoke  of  his  spiritual  attainments.  Yet, 
when  first  attacked  (a  few  month-  before  his  death)  with  the 
disease  which  ultimately  proved  fatal,  his  spirit  was  calm, 
serene,  submissive,  full  of  joy,  and  unwavering  in  its  trust  in 
God.  Aware  that  death  lurked  in  the  disease,  he  shrank 
not  at  its  approach,  but  was  ready  to  'depart  and  be  with 
Christ.'  " 

He  had  enjoyed  uninterrupted  health  through  his  whole 
life,  not  being  confined  to  his  bed  a  week  at  a  time  for  thirty 
years.  His  preservation  in  the  midst  of  exposure  was  a 
marked  instance  of  God's  providence  in  the  preservation  of 
his  ministers.  He  was  not,  therefore,  prepared  by  his  former 
experience  to  pass  the  ordeal  which  God  was  preparing  for 


WILLIAM    M.    KENNEDY.  163 

hini ;  still,  when  the  trial  came,  grace  sustained  him.  During 
his  first  attack  of  the  disease  which  terminated  his  life,  he 
was  visited  by  one  of  the  preachers,  who  says :  "  While  he 
was  suffering  greatly,  I  inquired  of  him  in  reference  to  the 
state  of  his  mind.  He  replied  by  alluding  to  his  remarkable 
exemption  from  affliction  through  life,  and  then  said:  'I 
have  no  doubt  that  I  am  now  learning  a  lesson  I  would  not 
have  learned  in  any  other  way.'  " 

Zealous  in  good  works,  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
he  could  not  fail  to  pass  safely  the  Jordan  of  death ;  while, 
by  the  suddenness  of  his  departure,  he  proclaims  to  all,  "Be 
ye  also  ready,  for  in  such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not  the  Son  of 
man  cometh." 

His  body  was  brought  to  the  city  of  Columbia  for  inter- 
ment ;  and  a  neat  slab,  with  an  appropriate  epitaph,  has  been 
placed  over  his  sleeping  dust. 

There  is  also  in  the  Washington  Street  Church  a  cenotaph 
bearing  the  inscription  copied  on  the  following  page. 

By  the  side  of  this  cenotaph  is  another,  erected  by  the 
same  Conference,  in  honor  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dunwody, 
one  of  its  most  gifted  and  useful  members.  These  worthy 
ministers  entered  the  Itinerant  Connection  at  the  same  time, 
and  labored  in  the  same  Conference  more  than  the  third  of  a 
century.  As  bold  soldiers  of  the  cross,  they  had  won  many 
a  hard-fought  battle ;  and  now,  though  they  died  at  different 
times,  and  were  buried  at  points  distant  from  each  other,  still 
their  voices  speak  from  those  monuments  in  the  Church 
where  they  had  alternately  declared  all  the  counsel  of  God. 


164  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

8ACRED    TO    THE 
MEMORY    OF    THE 

REV.    WILLIAM   MEGEE   KENNEDY, 

who  was  born  in  n.  c, 

January  10th,  1783, 

ASD    DIED 

February  22,  1840. 

he  was  for  m  years  a  member  0? 

the  s.  c.  conference, 

A  faithful,  successful,  and 

DISTINGUISHED    MINISTER 

OP  THE   LoRD  Jesus. 

Hi    WAS    THE    INSTRUMENT    01    TIRNINrj 

many  to  uomauimi ; 

WniLK    THE    EMINENT    CHRISTIAN    VIRTUES 

OP    HIS    CHARACTER 

ENDEARED    HIM    TO    A    WIDE    CIRCLE 

OP    ADMIRINO    FRIENDS. 

IIlS    REMAINS    REPOSE    NEAR    THIS 

ClIUROH,    IN    CONNECTION    WITH    WHICH 

M  \NY    YEARS    (IF    II 1 1 

ACTIVE    LIFE    WERE    SPENT. 

This  marble  is  a  KOauMuri  01  affection 

on  the  tart  of  his  brethren 

of  the  Booth  Carolina  Conference. 


■■HHOTHMBMBB 


HEZEKIAH    G.    LEIGH.  165 


HEZEKIAH    G.    LEIGH. 

BY    THE    REV.    R.    O.    BURTON. 

The  Eev.  Hezekiah  Gilbert  Leigh,  D.  D.,  of  the  North 
Carolina  Conference,  was  born  in  Perquimans  county,  IT.  C. 
His  parents  were  Gilbert  and  Charlotte  Leigh.  His  mother's 
name  was  Spruill.  His  parents  were  highly  respectable,  and 
many  of  his  mother's  relatives  still  live  in  his  native  State, 
occupying  a  high  position  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  its 
citizens. 

Dr.  Leigh  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Crump,  of  Northampton, 
N.  C,  and  left  four  sons  and  three  daughters  at  the  close  of 
his  life. 

But  little  is  known  of  his  early  life  previously  to  his  con- 
nection with  the  Conference.  He  unfortunately  kept  no 
journal,  and  has  left  nothing  to  enrich  a  sketch;  and  the 
Church  is  deprived  of  much  valuable  information  which 
would  have  contributed  to  her  guidance  and  edification. 
Few  men  have  gone  to  the  grave  and  to  their  reward  pos- 
sessing more  modest  merit  and  mental  power,  or  who  wielded 
a  more  benign  and  wider  influence  for  good  than  he. 

We  learn  that  his  parents  were  not  members  of  any 
Church,  and  consequently  he  was  deprived  of  that  early  re- 


166  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

ligious  culture  which  true  piety  gives,  and  which  a  holy 
example  leaves  to  enrich  and  bless  the  child. 

He  was  educated  mainly  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Freeman,  a  worthy 
and  intelligent  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  re- 
ceived what  u  termed  an  academical  education.  From  the 
son  of  Dr.  Freeman  we  learn  that  he  diligently  applied  him- 
self to  his  studies  while  at  school  in  Murfreesboro',  N.  C, 
under  the  instruction  of  his  estimable  teacher. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev. 
John  Todd  Brame,  Senr.,  he  was  led  to  Christ,  and  was  justi- 
fied "through  faith  in  his  blood."  He  soon  joined  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  his  mind  was  turned  to  the 
Christian  ministry.  The  next  year  after  his  conversion,  he 
joined  the  Virginia  Conference,  then  embracing  chiefly  the 
present  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  Conferences.  Perhaps 
Dr.  Leigh's  bias  in  favor  of  the  Church  in  which  he  lived, 
labored,  and  died,  was  given  by  the  early  and  extensive  in- 
fluence exerted  by  it  throughout  that  part  of  Xorth  Carolina, 
as  well  as  throughout  the  whole  State.  In  no  State  in  the 
Union  has  the  influence  of  Methodism  been  more  benign 
and  beneficial  than  in  Xorth  Carolina.  Especially  has  its  in- 
fluence been  great  in  the  lower  part  of  the  State.  Neither 
heat  nor  malaria,  sickness  nor  death,  has  deterred  its  minis- 
ters from  seeking  the  lost  sheep  of  the  fold.  Under  the 
ministry  of  those  men  who  labored  there,  and  where  now 
the  Church  of  his  choice  spreads  her  green  glories,  the  bless- 
ing and  praise  of  the  land,  was  he  blessed. 

lie  rose  rapidly  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  Con- 
ference of  which  he  became  a  distinguished  and  leading 
member.  When  young,  he  was  slender,  with  fair  skin,  a 
blue  eye,  dark  hair,  large  nose,  and  a  mouth  expressive  of 
great  amiability  and  good -nature.     Perhaps  few  men  pos- 


HEZEKIAH    G.     LEIGH.  167 

sessed  a  voice  of  more  compass  and  melody  than  his ;  and 
those  who  have  heard  him  will  recur  to  the  opportunities 
they  have  enjoyed  of  conversing  with  him,  and  of  listening 
to  him  in  the  church  and  in  the  tented  grove,  when  its  notes 
swept  the  keys  of  their  souls  with  unearthly  sweetness  and 
power. 

God  had  endowed  him  with  great  capabilities  for  useful- 
ness. He  possessed  a  good  constitution,  and  enjoyed  as 
much  health  as  most  men,  and  was  able  to  perform  a  great 
amount  of  labor  in  the  study  and  in  the  pulpit.  He  pos- 
sessed a  mind  of  very  high  order,  which  he  labored  to  culti- 
vate ;  keeping  ever  in  view  his  high  and  holy  calling,  having 
early  consecrated  his  life  to  God  and  the  good  of  the  world. 

Few  men  possessed  a  nobler  soul  than  his.  Early  did  he 
show  that  public  spirit  which  is  indispensable  to  moral  great- 
ness. He  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  as  a 
soldier  during  the  war  of  1812 ;  and  but  for  the  declaration 
of  peace,  his  great  mind  and  soul  might  have  spent  their 
energies  in  fields  of  carnage  red  with  gore,  rather  than  in 
bearing  the  conditions  of  peace  and  pardon  to  the  enemies 
of  Jesus,  where  he  won  his  fadeless  honors. 

He  was  a  sincere  man — "an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom 
there  was  no  guile."  "Who  that  knew  him  well,  does  not 
remember  his  hatred  of  any  thing  that  was  low  and  in- 
triguing ?  He  loved  truth,  and  during  his  whole  life  main- 
tained this  character.  His  high  regard  for  this  virtue  gave 
sometimes  to  his  manner  the  appearance  of  bluntness,  which 
may  have  offended  those  who  were  but  partially  acquainted 
with  him.  It  was  in  this  trait  of  his  character  chiefly  rested 
his  power  for  good,  which  he  wielded  over  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  thousands  in  the  States  of  North  Carolina  and 
Virginia,  and  erected  a  monument  as  imperishable  as  im- 


168  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

mortality.  In  God's  regard  for  truth  began  that  system  of 
redeeming  mercy  which  is  instinct  with  life,  and  sheds  the 
only  light  of  hope  on  a  fallen  world.  Here  lies  the  power 
of  the  Christian  minister  to  save  souls.  His  soul  loved  the 
pure  truth  of  God.  On  it  he  rested  without  fear,  and  his 
eye  beamed,  and  his  bosom  dilated,  while  he  spoke  and 
thought  of  truth — God's  truth,  without  "mixture  of  error." 
In  entering  on  a  work  of  so  much  difficulty  and  responsi- 
bility as  the  ministry  of  the  cross,  knowing  the  errors  and 
prejudices  Of  the  fallen  world,  his  soul  exulted  in  the  love 
and  power  of  truth.  He  darted  his  eye  along  the  track  of 
an  ever- evolving  providence  to  the  sure  successes  which 
God's  promises  hold  forth  to  a  good  minister.  Were  you  the 
intimate  friend  of  Dr.  Leigh?  Then  you  will  remember, 
reader,  he  never  betrayed  your  confidence  or  forsook  you, 
cither  to  promote  his  own  ends,  or  because  others  disliked 
you. 

lie  possessed  a  soul  full  of  love  for  his  race,  and  in  all  the 
relations  of  life  he  was  kind,  affectionate,  and  generous.  I 
have  never  known  a  man  more  devoted  to  his  family,  and  who 
manifested  more  tenderness  and  interest  in  his  children  as 
they  grew  up  into  life.  He  has  no  claims  to  the  character  of 
a  noble  and  generous  Christian  man  who  fails  to  do  his  part 
to  make  his  home  joyous  and  his  household  happy.  lb  re 
Dr.  Leigh  showed  his  kindness,  and  home  was  to  him  his 
Eden  when  his  work  abroad  was  done.  It  was  his  practice 
to  take  his  sons  on  the  District  to  develop  their  minds  and 
hearts ;  and  when  one  grew  large  enough  to  go  to  school,  he 
would  carry  the  next;  and  this  system  he  pursued  to  the  end 
of  his  days.  The  happy  influence  he  exerted  is  seen  in  the 
sound  moral  principles  of  his  children,  and  the  promise  of 
good  they  give  to  the  world. 


HEZEKIAH    G.     LEIGH.  169 

He  was  possessed  of  warm  and  strong  sympathies,  and  re- 
joiced in  the  promotion  of  his  fellows  and  their  success  in 
doing  good.  Of  an  enemy  he  would  take  no  advantage :  to 
an  enemy  he  would  do  justice.  The  helpless  and  depressed 
he  was  too  noble  to  strike.  Between  himself  and  another 
distinguished  minister  there  had  been  some  alienation  of 
feeling  for  a  short  time.  In  his  presence,  the  conversation 
turned  to  the  qualities  of  this  minister's  heart.  Something 
was  said  in  depreciation  of  him,  when  Dr.  Leigh  remarked : 
"  You  are  mistaken.  He  will  like  you  the  better  if  you  de- 
fend your  position  like  a  man  while  debating  with  him.  He 
is  an  honorable  man."  A  lover  of  peace  related  this  con- 
versation to  the  absent  one,  and  Dr.  Leigh  and  he  lived  de- 
voted friends  to  the  close  of  his  life. 

He  was  as  free  from  a  censorious  spirit  and  from  the  spirit 
of  detraction  and  evil  -  speaking  as  any  man  I  have  ever 
known.  That  amiable  minister,  the  Rev.  John  ~W.  Childs, 
remarked,  when  representing  Dr.  Leigh  in  Conference  as  a 
Presiding  Elder,  under  whom  he  had  travelled  that  year :  "I 
have  never  known  a  man  more  free  from  evil-speaking" — a 
high  eulogy  from  that  sainted  man  ! 

He  possessed  no  spirit  of  self  -  promotion — the  fruitful 
source  of  evil,  strife,  and  discontent  in  the  Church  and  the 
world.  The  writer  of  this  sketch,  who  became  acquainted 
with  Dr.  Leigh  on  entering  the  Conference,  and  lived  in  in- 
timate friendship  with  him  till  he  died,  knows  how  he  feared 
lest  he  might  be  brought  under  the  influence  of  ambition. 
The  avaricious  and  ambitious  are  incapable  of  true  friend- 
ship. The  one  will  forsake  us  for  gain ;  the  other  for  posi- 
tion. Dr.  Leigh  never  labored  to  thrust  himself  in  places  to 
be  conspicuous,  or  in  posts  the  most  responsible.  He  merged 
all  considerations  into  the  desire  and  purpose  to  be  useful. 


170  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

With  what  emphasis  has  he  often  said  to  me :  "  How  plea- 
sant it  is  to  live  to  do  goo<l  !" 

lie  possessed  a  strong  will,  and  was  inflexible  in  purpose 
to  do  his  duty,  lie  was  a  man  of  true  courage  and  Inde- 
pendence of  character.  IK'  did  not  pause  to  inquire  the 
shades  of  opinion,  the  prejudices,  ami  t lie  amount  of  outside 
pressure,  before  In-  formed  his  opinion,  and  acted.  He 
looked  at  moral  obligation  a-  a  pnre- minded  man;  and 
with  a  vivid  sense  of  his  responsibility  as  a  man  and  minis- 
ter, he  met  his  difficulties  with  firmness,  bore  trouble  with 
fortitude,  and  spoke  his  sentiment-  with  independence,  lie 
never  vacillated  in  his  course,  nor  shrank  sensitively  when 
human  displeasure  and  danger  conspired  to  darken  with 
storm-clouds  the  voyage  of  lite. 

Dr.  Leigh  was  deeply  pious,  and  carried  with  him  an  un- 
blemished    Chan  a    man    and    a    Christian    mini 

Deeply  impressed  with  the  depravity  and  infirmity  of  human 
nature,  he  was  a  man  who  prayerfully  rested  in  Jesus;  ami 
the  theme  of  his  thoughts,  and  the  delight  of  his  soul,  was 
u Jesus  and  him  crucified."  His  faith  in  the  atonement  was 
Strong  and  influential,  securing  to  him  abiding  peace  ami 
power  to  do  the  will  of  God. 

It  has  been  remarked  before  that  the  influence  of  Dr. 
Leigh  was  wide  and  potent  for  good.  It  was  as  a  minister 
and  public  man  that  he  shone  so  conspicuously  amongst 
men.  Gifted  by  nature  with  a  great  mind,  he  labored  to 
store  it  with  divine  truth,  at  the  same  time  keeping  his  soul 
full  of  the  love  of  Christ. 

He  was  a  sound  reasoner,  eloquent,  and  in  description 
often  unequalled.  lie  possessed  the  power  to  make  great 
truths  simple  and  plain  to  the  masst-.  He  was  mainly  a 
topical   preacher,  and   elucidated  a  subject,  and   carried   it 


HEZEKIAH    G.     LEIGH.  171 

home  to  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  his  hearers,  with  a 
power  that  often  made  men  wail  before  him. 

His  faith  in  Christ  was  great,  and  his  confidence  in  God's 
word  as  an  instrument  to  save  men  was  as  strong  as  that  of 
any  man  I  ever  have  known.  He  "  was  full  of  faith  and  the 
Holy  Ghost."  Although  Dr.  Leigh  was  eloquent,  yet  he  felt  his 
success  was  dependent  on  Divine  influence,  and  he  claimed 
success  because  God  has  promised  it.  Doubtless,  in  the 
earlier  part  of  his  ministry,  he  had  used  the  pen  in  prepara- 
tion and  in  improving  his  style ;  but  in  the  latter  years  his 
preparation  was  without  the  pen.  Dr.  Leigh  did  not  confine 
his  public  teaching  to  a  few  choice  subjects,  yet  he  delighted 
to  preach  chiefly  on  the  atonement  of  Jesus,  and  pressed 
home  on  the  hearts  of  his  audience  the  great  doctrine  of  the 
witness  of  the  Spirit.  He  was  no  one-idea  man,  and  never 
had  a  hobby,  or  wore  out  the  patience  of  his  congregation 
by  dwelling  on  one  theme.  He  took  a  wide  survey  of  Bible 
truth,  saw  the  harmony  of  its  parts,  and  admired  and  trusted 
in  it  as  a  system  of  salvation.  In  preparing  for  the  pulpit, 
he  closely  studied  with  the  Bible  in  his  hand,  collating  the 
various  parallel  passages,  and  impressed  them  on  his  memory 
and  hid  them  in  his  heart.  With  his  confidence  in  God's 
word  and  providence,  his  heart  burned  with  zeal  for  the  sal- 
vation of  men.  No  unholy  love  of  human  praise  actuated 
him,  but  a  pure  desire  to  save  souls.  Occupying  an  enviable 
position  in  social  life,  respected  and  beloved  by  the  good, 
numbering  a  vast  multitude  of  friends,  and  enjoying  worldly 
affluence  and  domestic  peace,  he  went  forth  with  the  holy 
anointing  resting  on  him,  to  open  his  spiritual  vision  and 
stir  him  up  to  feel  and  speak  as  one  having  authority  from 
God. 

There  was  as  much  unction  in  his  preaching  as  in  that  of  any 


172  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

man  who  has  labored  -within  our  knowledge.     Perhaps  many 

attach  too  little  importance  to  this  qualification  for  success 
in  winning  souls.  Human  learning  is  important  to  aid  the 
minister  of  the  gospel  to  understand  and  teach  men  the  way 
of  life ;  hut  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  assure  the 
minister  of  his  justification  and  acceptance,  and  to  make 
truth  clear  to  him,  and  to  open  the  "blind  eyes,"  is  indis- 
pensable. Our  ministers  and  people  arc  rising  in  the  scale 
of  Intelligence,  and  the  day  is  gone  when  calumny  labors  to 
poison  the  world  against  the  Methodists  <>n  this  ground. 
Colleges  rise  under  the  fostering  care  of  the  Church.  Let  us 
be  careful  lest  the  confidence  in  human  Learning  and  the 
polish  of  style  lead  as  away  from  the  source  of  our  power 
_  >od.  Bow  fervently  did  this  man  of  God  implore  the 
Divine  aid,  and  how  like  a  child  did  his  greal  mind  and 
heart  rest  in  the  promise,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  to 
the  end  of  the  world!"  lie  knew  "in  whom  he  believed," 
and  the  doctrine  of  the  witness  of  the  Spirit  found  a  most 
prominent  place  in  his  preaching.  He  preached  what  he 
knew  to  be  true;  and  knew  that  a  system  to  make  men 
happy  must  possess  the  power  to  satisfy  the  mind  that  the 
soul  is  in  union  with  God.  "With  this  great  truth  the  great 
W.  -icy  commenced  his  career  to  improve  the  piety  of  the 
Church  of  England;  and  our  fathers,  who  sleep  in  hope, 
made  this  largely  the  burden  of  a  ministry  which,  for  effi- 
ciency in  converting  sinners,  is  without  a  parallel  in  the 
Church  since  the  days  of  the  apOStL  -. 

Dr.  Leigh  was  remarkable  in  that  he  was  always  ready  to 
preach  with  fervor  and  in  the  spirit  of  a  revivalist;  and  he 
has  been  called  up  from  his  couch  when  weary,  and  with 
-rear  success  has  pressed  home  the  gospel  to  his  fellow-men. 

The  atonement  was  his  favorite  theme.     On  the  priesthood 


HEZEKIAH    G.     LEIGII.  17o 

of  Christ,  and  indeed  on  all  his  offices,  he  had  no  superior 
as  a  preacher.  He  preached  "Christ  crucified."  With 
graphic  power  and  pathos  did  he  describe  that  hour  when 
the  Saviour  of  men  hung  in  sweat  and  agony  on  the  cross. 
It  was  while  he  preached  on  these  great  subjects  he  showed 
himself  the  great  pulpit  orator  and  ambassador  for  Jesus. 
Often  has  the  writer  of  this  sketch  listened  to  him  when  vast 
crowds  at  camp -meetings  now  trembled,  now  wailed,  now 
shouted,  while  his  great  mind  grasped  and  explained  the 
way  of  life,  and  his  heart  swelled  with  joy  along  the  track 
of  truth.  There  he  stood,  glowing  with  love,  his  eye  beam- 
ing with  emotion,  deeply  moved,  and  yet  so  self-poised  as  to 
sway  the  vast  multitudes  who  wept  and  rejoiced  under  his 
powerful  preaching.  He  felt  and  preached  that  "  now  is  the 
day  of  salvation ;"  and  while  his  sermons  would  live  in  the 
memory  of  his  hearers,  he  expected  present  effects. 

The  first  time  we  ever  heard  Dr.  Leigh  was  when  a  youth, 
near  the  mountains  of  Virginia.  He  was  then  in  the  full 
tide  of  his  popularity,  and  stood  forth  one  of  the  most  effect- 
ive preachers  in  the  Church.  Never  shall  I  forget  the  im- 
pressions of  that  occasion.  Then  commenced  a  friendship 
with  him,  and  veneration  for  him,  that  was  cherished  till 
death  removed  this  holy  man  to  his  reward  and  rest. 

Dr.  Leigh  was  eminently  successful  in  awakening  sinners, 
and  in  leading  them  to  the  cross.  I  am  persuaded  that  I  saw 
sixty  persons  converted  as  the  fruit  of  one  discourse.  On 
the  District,  or  Station,  or  Circuit,  he  labored  to  convert  men. 
He  would  labor  in  the  pulpit  and  among  the  penitents,  pray- 
ing for  them,  singing  and  rejoicing  with  them.  Like  a  good 
minister  that  loved  souls  and  the  Church  with  a  consuming 
zeal,  he  led  the  sacramental  host,  and  showed  himself  worthy 
of  the  confidence  the  Church  reposed  in  him.     The  writer 


174  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

has  known  no  man  who  has  been  more  successful  iu  winning 
souls  than  he. 

In  the  borough  of  Norfolk,  where  he  was  stationed,  and  m 
Petersburg,  he  left  the  impress  of  his  mind,  and  an  influence 
that  will  last  through  time.  Perhaps  in  no  place  was  Dr. 
Leigh  more  useful  than  in  the  city  i>\'  Petersburg;  and  much 
of  the  Btrong  and  happy  influence  which  Methodism  now 
exerts  over  the  popular  mind  in  that  city  may  be  traced  to 
the  successful  labor-  of  Dr.  Leigh. 

II  i  •  >y<  1  the  confidence  of  the  Church  in  his  purity  and 
wisdom  during  his  ministerial  life.  Ee  was  elected  to  every 
1 1  I      ference  after  he  was  eligible,  and  was  a  member 

of  the  Louisville  Convention  at  the  organization  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  Tn  the  question  which 
divided  the  Church,  he  stood  firmly  with  the  South,  believing 
his  views  were  BCriptural  and  sound.  In  this  conviction  lie 
lived  and  died. 

The  most  of  his  ministerial  life  was  spent  in  the  Bervice  of 
the  Church  a-  a  Presiding  Elder  in  the  States  of  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina — an  olliec  to  which  he  was,  by  the  purity 
of  his  character,  soundness  of  his  judgment,  his  love  for 
M<  thodism,  and  hi-  great  talents  as  a  preacher,  eminently 
qualified.  The  Districts  were  large  ami  laborious,  and  con- 
sequently  he  had  but  little  opportunity  to  use  his  pen  to 
transmit  to  post<  pity  the  matured  thoughts  with  which  he 
had  benefited  so  many  of  his  race. 

Dr.  Leigh  was  a  wise  administrator  of  discipline,  and  al- 
ways discountenanced  those  hasi  .  and  ill -advised 
measures  by  which  men  were  expelled  from  the  Church,  ami 
generally  lost  for  ever!  "With  him,  expulsion  was  the  last 
resort.  He  tried,  and  taught  his  preachers  to  try,  every  other 
means  first.     How  often  has  religion  been  prejudiced  in  the 


HEZEKIAH    G.    LEIGH.  175 

minds  of  men  by  want  of  wisdom  here !  Frequently  have 
we  heard  him  give  instances  in  which  kind  pastoral  entreaty, 
and  admonition,  and  prayer,  have,  under  the  blessing  of  God, 
rescued  the  inebriate  from  sin,  and  brought  back  the  back- 
slider to  the  communion  of  the  Saviour  and  confidence  of 
the  Church.  "Go,"  said  he,  "and  see  them,  talk  to  them, 
and  pray  for  them,  and  try  to  rescue  them  from  sin !" 

He  was  a  devoted  lover  of  that  form  of  religion  called 
Methodism ;  and  yet  he  was  no  bigot,  and  avoided  as  far  as 
possible  all  religious  controversies.  As  often  as  I  have  heard 
him  preach,  I  never  heard  him  preach  what  was  properly  a 
controversial  sermon.  He  was  a  lover  of  peace  and  a  lover 
of  good  men.  While  he  was  clear  in  his  convictions  that 
the  Church  of  his  choice  was  constituted  for  good,  and  was 
adapted  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  masses,  yet  he  was  not 
blind  or  indifferent  to  the  piety  and  usefulness  of  others,  and 
"rejoiced  that  Christ  was  preached." 

In  this  sphere,  whither  Providence  had  led  him,  and  where 
he  was  so  well  known,  and  known  to  be  honored,  loved,  and 
trusted,  he  employed  his  time,  and  engaged  his  thoughts,  in 
endeavoring  to  elevate  Methodism  in  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  the  world,  and  prepare  her  the  more  efficiently  to 
move  in  her  great  aggressive  and  conservative  plan — aggres- 
sive against  sin  and  error,  conservative  of  piety  and  truth — 
to  spread  the  truth  and  subdue  the  world  to  the  peaceful 
reign  of  Jesus.  He  entered  the  Conference,  and  was  a  leader 
among  his  brethren,  just  when  the  Church  needed  such  a 
man — a  man  not  behind  the  age  nor  ahead  of  it,  but  with  it, 
of  it. 

"With  a  soul  full  of  public  spirit,  deeply  devoted  to  the 
Church,'  impressed  with  the  power  of  human  learning,  and 
the  want  of  it  even  for  present  and  more  extended  useful- 


176  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

ness,  knowing  that  sanctified  learning  is  the  great  break- 
water against  infidelity  and  error,  and  that  the  ministry  and 
Church  must  improve  in  order  that  the  masses  might  have 
pious  and  intelligent  teaohem  to  save  the  Church  from  im- 
becility, and  to  prevent  the  people  from  rushing  into  fanati- 
cism or  infidelity,  as  into  a  maelstrom,  he  conceived  the  plan 
of  elevating  the  standard  of  ministerial  qualification,  and 
projected  a  scheme  for  the  establishment  of  a  college  of 
highest  grade,  that  Methodism  and  her  friends  might  enjoy 
an  advantage  so  desirable  in  a  free  country.  Not  a  few  ap- 
prehended  evil  in  this,  knowing  that  in  the  past  many  had 
thrust  themselves  into  the  pulpit  destitute  of  moral  qualifica- 
tion for  the  mini-try.  "  But,"  said  Dr.  Leigh,  "  it  is  time,  high 
time,  our  Church  had  moved  in  this  great  cause."  He  was 
stationed  in  Petersburg,  Va.,  at  the  time  when  the  establish- 
ment of  a  college  was  first  suggested.  Mr.  G.  P.  Disosway, 
now  of  New  York,  was  then  an  official  member  in  the  sta- 
tion, and  an  ardent  friend  of  the  object,  and  presented  to 
the  Quarterly  Conference  a  resolution  expressing  a  conviction 
that  the  Church  needed  a  college  to  prepare  her  the  better  to 
promote  the  great  interests  God  in  his  providence  has  in- 
trusted to  her.  This  was  passed  unanimously,  and  Dr.  Leigh 
was  instructed  to  prepare  a  letter  calling  attention  to  the  im- 
portance of  collegiate  education  in  our  Connection.  This 
letter  was  published,  and  was  widely  circulated;  and  soon 
the  Virginia  Conference,  then  embracing  most  of  the  present 
North  Carolina  Conference,  sanctioned  the  enterprise,  which 
has  contributed  so  much  to  advance  the  best  interests  of 
the  Church  in  the  establishment  of  Randolph  Macon  Col- 
lege. While  the  Church  had  been  sleeping  over  this  great 
subject,  and  was  allowing  her  influence  to  be  daily  jeo- 
parded, or  to  glide  away  as  the  moving  waters,  Dr.  Leigh 


HEZEKIAH    G.    LEIGH.  177 

was  awake  and  actively  alive  to  this  interest  of  the  Church 
and  country.  His  sagacious  and  far-reaching  mind  saw  that 
a  vast  influence  for  good  would  be  secured,  and  a  cumulative 
power  would  come  up  through  future  years  to  arm  the 
better  the  Church  of  his  choice,  youth,  and  manhood,  to 
contend  in  the  coming  conflict  with  popery,  infidelity,  and 
sin.  He  was  truly  one  of  the  pioneers,  and  perhaps  the 
principal  one,  in  the  cause  of  a  sanctified  learning  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  devoted  several  years  of 
his  life  as  one  of  the  first  agents  of  Eandolph  Macon  College, 
and  contributed  in  no  small  measure  to  the  raising  of  the 
funds  necessary  to  the  establishment  of  this  institution, 
which  has  doubtless  done  more  than  any  other  belonging 
to  the  Church  to  interest  the  masses  and  develop  the  in- 
tellectual wealth  of  the  Church.  He  lived  and  died  the  de- 
voted friend  of  this  institution,  the  establishment  of  which 
his  mind  conceived,  and  which  his  labors,  and  prayers,  and 
influence,  promoted  and  preserved.  He  who  lived  in  those 
days  when  the  plan  was  projected,  and  a  little  subsequently, 
and  is  still  a  looker-on  as  the  Church  moves  forward  to  fulfil 
her  destiny,  feels  grateful  to  God  and  this  friend  of  the 
Church  while  he  contrasts  the  prosperous  present  with  the 
past.  Abounding  in  numbers,  great  in  influence,  the  Church 
shows  her  intellectual  wealth,  both  in  the  South  and  in  the 
North.  This  movement  in  the  Virginia  Conference  by  one 
of  Carolina's  noblest  sons  was  soon  followed  by  the  estab- 
lishment of  colleges  in  other  States ;  and  the  influence  set 
in  motion  has  gone  on  as  a  wave  encircling  and  covering  the 
whole  Church. 

In  the  cause  of  female  education  Dr.  Leigh  was  also  fore- 
most, and  was  one  of  the  committee  appointed  in  the  Vir- 
ginia Conference  to  establish  the  Greensboro'  Female  Col- 
12 


178  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

lege  at  Greensboro',  X.  C,  which  was  the  first  institution  of 
that  grade  in  the  Church,  North  or  South. 

God  has  blessed  and  owned  the  labors  of  this  servant  of 
his  and  his  coadjutors ;  and  now,  by  fidelity  to  the  plans  and 
contracts  of  the  past,  looking  steadily  to  the  advancement 
in  Learning  and  piety  of  the  vast  numbers  committed  to  us, 
the  heart  of  the  good  and  patriotic  swells  with  gratitude  to 
the  "Author  of  all  good,"  and  hope  looks  to  the  coming 
future  as  still  brightening  at  morn,  radiant  at  noon,  and 
gorgeous  in  the  glory  of  a  sunset  thai  terminates  the  days 
of  the  world  and  the  destiny  of  Methodism.  These  are 
monuments  to  the  memory  of  our  friend  as  imperishable  as 
immortality. 

For  Beveral  years  previous  to  his  death,  Dr.  Leigh's  health 
had  been  gradually  declining,  and  his  labors  were  confined  to 
narrower  bounds  than  those  of  a  Presiding  Elder's  District. 
It  improved  somewhat,  and  he  was  the  second  time  ap- 
pointed as  Presiding  Elder  to  the  Raleigh  District,  which 
was  the  last  appointment  he  received  from  the  Church. 
Here  he  showed  his  wonted  seal  and  fervent  love  for  the 
souls  of  men.  He  preached  with  unusual  pathos  and  ten- 
derness; and  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  his  subduing  influences, 
was  evidently  fitting  him  for  the  change  that  was  soon 
to  pass  over  this  good  minister.  In  great  feebleness  and 
emaciation,  he  was  enabled  to  attend  the  last  annual  Con- 
ference at  Louisburg,  X.  C,  in  1852,  over  which  the  lamented 
Bishop  Capers  presided.  He  sat  with  the  Bishop  and  Presid- 
ing Elders  a  short  time,  and  returned  home  too  feeble  to 
labor,  and  never  met  his  brethren  again  at  Conference. 
Gradually  his  strength  succumbed,  until  the  18th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1858,  when  his  "tent  a  ruin  lay." 

Dr.  William  A.  Smith,  President  of  Randolph  Macon  Col- 


HEZEKIAII    G.     LEIGH.  179 

lege,  in  his  sermon  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Leigh,  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  his  last  hours : 

"  Our  interviews  at  different  periods  of  his  affliction 
were  frequent,  and  the  conversation  usually  turned  upon 
distinctive  views  of  Christian  experience.  The  topics  which 
interested  him  most  were  the  faith  of  assurance  inspired  by 
the  Holy  Spirit ;  the  rich  comfort  it  afforded  him  as  he  drew 
near  the  Jordan  of  death ;  the  bright  and  glowing  light  it 
threw  over  its  otherwise  dark  valley ;  the  glory  that  awaited 
the  children  of  God;  the  curious  and  interesting  inquiries 
which  would  be  answered  in  the  spiritual  state;  the  diffi- 
culties in  both  mental  and  moral  nature  which  would  be 
solved ;  and  the  glorious  advance  of  mind  along  the  illimita- 
ble fields  of  infinite  knowledge,  developing  at  every  step  of 
the  vast  progression  the  amazing  wonders  of  Deity,  filling 
the  ever -increasing  capacities  of  the  immortal  spirit  with 
that  large  measure  of  heavenly  joy  which  the  eternal 
Fountain  of  light  and  love  could  alone  supply.  At  the 
period  when  it  was  supposed  that  he  was  within  a  few  hours 
of  his  dissolution,  I  spent  some  time  with  him.  The  con- 
versation turning  upon  his  state  and  prospects,  he  dwelt 
with  peculiar  interest  on  the  rich  comfort  afforded  him  by 
the  great  Bible  truth  we  have  just  discussed ;  and  though  he 
felt  confident  of  a  safe  trust  in  Christ,  a  sweet  assurance  of 
acceptance,  there  seemed  to  open  to  his  view  so  bright  and 
glowing  a  prospect  of  the  truths  yet  to  be  realized,  that  he 
grew  eloquent  in  describing  them,  and  was  so  lost  in  a 
vision  of  the  attainments  yet  to  be  made  in  fields  of  know- 
ledge and  comfort  provided  by  the  love  of  Christ,  that  he 
narrowed  down  by  comparison  the  attainments  already  made 
to  a  point  so  contemptible  in  his  own  eyes  as  to  cause  him 
to  loathe  himself,  and   exclaim :    '  0,  if  there  were  not  a 


180  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Daysman  betwixt  God  and  me,  how  could  I  stand  his  search- 
ing eye  !  Thank  God — bless  God  for  such  a  Saviour!'  The 
day  before  his  death  I  visited  him,  and  found  him  fast  sink- 
ing. Just  before  leaving,  as  it  was  not  deemed  proper  to 
fatigue  him  by  conversation,  I  sought  only  to  inquire, 
*  Watchman,  what  of  the  night!'  lie  turned  his  fading 
eye  upon  me,  and  with  a  smile  of  triumph  playing  on  his 
countenance,  he  softly  said,  in  reply  to  my  inquiry  if  he  still 
felt  that  his  trust  was  in  his  Saviour,  *0  yes:  what  should  I 
do  without  that?  Jesus  is  with  me.  My  trust  is  in  him 
alone!'" 

So  passed  away  "a  prince  among  pulpit  men,"  after  hav- 
ing devoted  his  great  influence  for  thirty-live  years  to  pro- 
mote the  happiness  of  his  raee  and  elevate  them  to  the 
dignity  and  glory  contemplated  in  the  gospel  of  Jesus.  His 
influence  still  lives  in  the  Church,  and  will  last,  preserved  of 
God,  when  his  contemporaries  Bleep  by  his  ride. 

If  the  formation  of  a  noble  Christian  character  is  the  great 
end  of  life,  then  Dr.  Leigh  has  gained  it  :  if  benevolence  is 
the  business  of  life,  he  performed  his  duty :  if  humility  is 
the  ornament  of  the  servant  of  that  Master  who  "washed 
his  disciples'  feet,"  then  he  wore  it:  if  success  in  saving 
souls  is  the  richest  reward  the  minister  receives  on  earth, 
then  he  reaped  it  to  an  extent  equalled  by  few:  if  to  enter 
safely  the  harbor  is  the  crowning  desire  of  the  mariner  who 
has  long  contended  with  wind  and  wave  on  a  stormy  sea, 
then  did  he  finish  his  voyage  with  joy,  and  "an  abundant 
entrance  was  ministered  unto  him  into  the  everlasting  king- 
dom of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ." 

The  pleasant  and  devoted  friend,  the  fond  husband  and 
tender  parent,  the  humble  Christian,  and  the  faithful  ambas- 


HEZEKIAH    G.    LEIGH.  181 

sador  of  Christ,  has  finished  the  work  which  God  gave  him 
to  do.  The  memory  of  friends  retains  the  recollections  of  his 
life,  and  their  hearts  embalm  them  for  ever. 

"  The  pains  of  life  are  past, 

Labor  and  sorrow  cease ; 
And  life's  long  warfare  closed  at  last, 

His  soul  is  found  in  peace. 
Soldier  of  Christ,  well  done ! 

Praise  be  thy  new  employ ; 
And  while  eternal  ages  run, 

Rest  in  thy  Saviour's  joy." 

By  vote  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference,  a  tablet  of 
marble  has  been  placed  within  the  walls  of  the  chapel  at 
Randolph  Macon  College,  bearing  the  inscription  given  on 
the  next  page. 


182  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

2  a  r  r  c  to 

TO    THE     MEMORY    OF    THE 

REV.    HEZEKIAH   G.    LEIGH,   D.  D. 

nE  was  born  ix  Pdquikam  County,  N.  C,  Nov.  23,  1795. 

Professed  Conversion  in  1817. 

Joi.skk  tiik  Virginia  Conference  in  1818. 

In  the  division  of  the  Conference  of  1886,  he  became  a  member  of  the  North 
Carolina  Conference. 

He  died  in  Mecklenburg  county,  Virginia,  September  18,  1853,  aged  fifty-eight 
years. 

nc  was  elected  to  every  General  Conference  from  1824  to  the  time  of  his  death : 
was  a  member  of  the  Louisville  Convention,  and  Trustee  of  Randolph  Macon 
College. 

no  devoted  the  powers  of  his  great  mind  to  the  service  of  the  Church  for 
thirty-five  years,  and  was  abundant  in  labors  and  success.  lie  was  the  advocate 
of  every  measure  to  improve  the  literary  and  religious  character  of  the  Church. 
A  lover  of  learning,  ho  founded  Randolph  Macon  College. 

Pure  in  character,  profound  in  the  knowledge  of  Divine  truths,  eloquent  as  a 
minister,  fervent  in  zeal,  eminent  in  usefulness,  he  lived  beloved  by  the  good,  and 
died  lamented  by  his  brethren. 


THIS     TABLET 

HAS    BEEN   ERECTED   TO    HIS    MEMORY 

BY    HIS 

BRETHREN  OP  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  CONFERENCE. 


VALENTINE    COOK.  183 


VALENTINE  COOK. 

BY    EDWARD    STEVENSON,    D     D 

Valentine  Cook,  Jr.,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  brought  up  in  Western  Virginia. 

His  father,  Valentine  Cook,  Sr.,  was  the  son  of  John 
Hamilton  Cook,  of  London,  England,  and  was  first-cousin  to 
the  renowned  mariner  of  that  name.  "When  but  six  years 
of  age,  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  father,  and  was 
taken  by  his  mother,  after  her  second  marriage,  to  Amster- 
dam, Holland,  where  he  received  a  pretty  thorough  English 
and  German  education. 

He  came  to  this  country  before  the  American  Revolution, 
and  is  said  to  have  taken  a  very  decided  and  active  part  in 
that  memorable  struggle  for  independence.  He  married  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  resided  till  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  then  removed  to  Western  Virginia,  and  perma- 
nently settled  in  the  Greenbrier  country,  now  Monroe 
county.  Here  he  spent  the  residue  of  his  days,  esteemed 
and  beloved  by  all  as  an  intelligent,  upright,  and  useful 
citizen. 

Valentine,  Jr.,  was  his  fifth  son,  and  at  an  early  period  in 
life  gave  indications  of  a  strong  and  vigorous  intellect.  His 
opportunities  for  acquiring  an  education  were  of  the  most 


184  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

unpromising  character.  The  schools  in  that  new  and  thinly- 
populated  country  were  few  and  very  imperfectly  supplied 
with  teachers.  Young  Cook,  however,  succeeded  in  obtain- 
ing the  rudiments  of  a  common  English  education,  and  was 
so  far  instructed  in  German  as  to  be  able  to  read,  write,  and 
speak  the  language  with  case  and  fluency.  His  moral  prin- 
ciples and  habits  were  such  as  to  attract  the  attention  and 
command  the  admiration  of  all  who  knew  him. 

During  his  early  years,  he  was  greatly  devoted  to  hunting; 
and  at  that  day  no  country  in  the  world,  perhaps,  presented 
superior  advantages  of  the  sort  to  Western  Virginia.  That 
vast  mountain  range  abounded  with  wild  game,  from  the 
buffalo  down  to  the  pheasant.  Such  was  his  fondness  for 
this  kind  of  sport,  that  every  hour  he  could  redeem  from  the 
labors  of  the  farm  and  the  recitations  of  the  school-room 
was  appropriated  in  this  way.  Beings  first-rate  mar teaman, 
and  having  at  command  a  well-trained  pack  of  hounds,  he 
seldom  returned  from  those  hunting  excursions  without  hav- 
ing his  pack-horse  well  loaded  with  wild  meats,  skins,  furs, 
etc.  His  delight  in  the  chase  was  such  that  he  sometimes 
wandered  far  away  from  the  settlements,  and  was  compelled 
to  take  up  his  lodging  for  the  night  beneath  the  moss-grown 
dills  or  lofty  forests  that  overhung  those  mountain  heights, 
and  that,  too,  while  yet  these  frontier  settlements  were  occa- 
sionally invaded  by  ferocious  savage  men. 

But  in  the  midst  of  all  his  juvenile  sports  and  adventures, 
he  never  lost  sight  of  the  improvement  of  his  mind.  Hence, 
a  portion  of  his  time  was  devoted  to  reading  and  study.  His 
library,  though  small,  contained  one  very  valuable  book;  and 
fortunately  for  him,  in  that  book  he  was  greatly  delighted : 
it  was  the  Bible.  He  read  it  with  much  interest  and  prayer- 
ful attention.     Such  was  his  fondness  for  the  inspired  records 


VALENTINE    COOK.  185 

that  his  mind  became  thoroughly  imbued  with  their  sacred 
teachings,  though  he  was  but  a  stripling.  "When  far  ad- 
vanced in  life,  he  could  repeat  chapter  after  chapter  with 
the  utmost  facility,  and  always  appeared  to  take  great  delight 
in  letting  his  brethren  and  friends  know  that  he  had  memo- 
rized these  portions  of  Scripture  long  before  he  embraced 
religion;  and  in  some  instances,  as  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
saying,  he  could  not  recollect  the  time  when  he  was  not  able 
to  repeat  them.  Of  him,  it  may  in  truth  be  said,  that  from  a 
child  he  knew  the  Holy  Scriptures.  It  was  from  the  careful 
and  constant  perusal  of  the  Bible  that  his  heart  became  so 
deeply  impressed,  even  in  his  boyhood,  with  the  importance 
of  an  early  and  unreserved  consecration  of  himself  to  God 
and  his  cause. 

His  parents  had  been  careful  to  teach  him  all  they  knew 
of  religion,  which  at  that  time  was  very  little.  He,  how- 
ever, clearly  saw  and  deeply  deplored  his  lost  condition  as  a 
depraved  and  guilty  sinner.  His  parents,  ignorant  of  the 
new  birth,  and  strangers  to  the  pardoning  mercy  of  God, 
were  disposed  to  mock  at  his  tears  and  laugh  at  the  frequency 
and  fervency  of  his  prayers.  But  nothing  moved  by  these 
parental  jeerings,  he  held  on  to  the  plainly-revealed  promises 
of  God,  earnestly  looking  and  anxiously  groaning  for  de- 
liverance. He  felt  himself  to  be  a  guilty,  polluted  sinner, 
and  as  such  exposed  to  the  righteous  wrath  of  a  sin-avenging 
God,  with  no  way  of  escape  but  through  the  intervention 
and  sacrificial  death  of  Christ.  To  him  he  looked  in  earnest 
prayer  by  day  and  night. 

About  this  time  a  Methodist  preacher  was  sent  out  to 
that  newly- settled  region  of  country.  He  proclaimed  the 
fulness  of  the  blessing  of  the  gospel  of  Christ  to  the  people 
in  the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  in  power.     A  state  of 


186  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

general  excitement  was  soon  waked  np  in  the  community. 
Some  openly  opposed,  others  were  indifferent,  while  a  few 
were  found  willing  to  approve  and  advocate  his  new  doc- 
trine. Young  Cook,  with  others,  was  soon  rallied  beneath 
his  standard,  and  in  a  little  time  found  it  necessary  to  be- 
come the  defender  of  thia  new  religion  and  its  votaries. 
The  opposition  with  which  lie  had  hitherto  been  called  to 
contend  was  merely  nominal,  but  now  his  parents,  in  good 
eariir-t,  began  to  protest  and  even  threaten,  while  his  former 
companions  and  associates  did  every  thing  in  their  power  to 
annoy  and  irritate  his  feelings.  To  all  this,  however,  he  sub- 
mitted with  becoming  forbearance,  while  at  the  same  time 
he  defended  himself  and  the  cause  of  Methodism  with  so 
much  ability  and  kindness  of  spirit  as  soon  to  confound  and 
silence  opponents  and  persecutors.  His  father  now  so  far 
yielded  the  point  as  to  assure  him  that  while  he  did  not  be- 
lieve in  religion  according  to  his  notions,  he  would  interpose 
no  further  obstacles  to  his  believing  and  acting  in  the  matter 
might  think  proper  and  right. 

During  this  period  of  his  religious  experience  he  became 
greatly  discouraged.  He  had  earnestly  sought  a  direct  as- 
surance of  his  acceptance  with  God;  but  not  having  realized 
the  object  of  his  desire,  he  was  sorely  tempted  to  give  up  the 
struggle,  and  rest  his  hope  of  heaven  on  "doing  justly, 
loving  mercy,  and  walking  humbly  with  God."  Still  the 
great  and  precious  promises  of  the  gospel,  with  the  many 
clear  and  striking  delineations  of  Christian  experience  and 
character,  found  upon  record  in  the  Epistles,  induced  him 
at  length  to  abandon  his  doubts  and  fears,  and  to  renew  his 
efforts  for  the  direct  witness  of  his  adoption  into  the  family 
of  God. 

This   painful    conflict  was    continued   for  months.      Per- 


VALENTINE    COOK.  187 

plexed  and  bewildered,  like  one  lost  in  a  trackless  desert,  he 
knew  not  which  way  to  direct  his  steps. 

About  this  time,  he  was  impressed  with  a  solemn  sense  of 
the  lost  condition  of  his  father's  family,  and  the  obligation 
he  was  under  to  make  some  efforts  in  order  to  effect  their 
salvation.  In  connection  with  an  elder  brother,  he  was  ulti- 
mately induced  to  propose  the  establishment  of  family- 
worship  in  his  father's  house.  The  subject  was  submitted 
to  the  old  gentleman,  who,  to  their  great  gratification,  readily 
assented,  and  promised  to  assist  them  in  the  attempt.  From 
that  time  to  the  day  of  his  death,  the  residence  of  Valentine 
Cook,  Sr.,  was  known  and  recognized  by  all  as  a  "house  of 
prayer."  The  old  gentleman  and  lady,  with  most  of  the 
family  and  some  of  the  neighbors,  were  soon  brought  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 

The  gifts  and  graces  of  Valentine,  Jr.,  were  thus  brought 
into  requisition,  and  were  so  developed  in  the  course  of  a 
few  months  as  to  satisfy  the  people  that  God  had  a  great 
work  for  him  to  do.  His  father  especially,  convinced  of  his 
extraordinary  endowments,  and  of  his  singularly  pious  and 
studious  habits,  determined,  if  possible,  to  give  him  a  col- 
legiate education.  Cokesbury  College  had  recently  been 
established,  and  as  it  was  a  Methodist  institution,  applica- 
tion was  made  to  Bishops  Coke  and  Asbury  for  his  ad- 
mission, which  was  readily  granted.  At  what  time  he 
entered,  and  how  long  he  remained  at  this  institution,  we 
have  no  means  of  ascertaining.  That  he  made  good  progress 
while  connected  with  the  school  was  fully  evinced  in  the 
subsequent  history  of  his  life  and  labors.  The  habits  which 
he  formed  during  his  connection  with  Cokesbury  College 
were  never  abandoned.  He  continued  to  prosecute  his  lite- 
rary, scientific,  and  theological  studies  amid  all  the  changes 


188  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

and  vicissitudes  to  which  lie  was  subjected  throughout  the 
whole  period  of  his  subsequent  life. 

After  leaving  Cokesbury,  which  must  have  been  in  1787, 
he  returned  to  his  father's  in  AYestern  Virginia,  where  his 
labors  as  an  exhorter  were  greatly  blessed. 

In  1788,  he  was  received  into  the  travelling  ministry,  and 
labored  on  different  Circuit-  in  Virginia,  Maryland,  and 
Pennsylvania,  until  1703.  In  IT'.'l  and  IT'.1"),  he  travelled  OB 
the  Philadelphia  District:  in  IT'.";  and  IT'.'",  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Pittsburgh  IVistr'n-t  :  in  1798,  he  was  sent  as 
a  missionary  to  Kentucky.  During  this  year  he  was  united 
by  marriage  to  Miss  Tahitha  Slaughter,  a  niece  of  ex- 
Governor  slaughter  of  that  State. 

Tlis  health  having  so  tar  tailed  as  to  render  it  impracti- 
cable for  him  to  do  effective  work  on  any  of  the  large 
Circuits,  or  still  larger  Districts  of  that  newly-settled  conn- 
try,  he  located,  in  IT'.1'.*,  and  was  soon  after  induced  to  take 
charge  of  the  Bethel  Seminary,  situated  in  Jessamine  county, 
Ky.  This  was  the  second,  as  Cokesbury  had  been  the  first, 
institution  of  learning  established  by  the  Methodist  Church 
in  America.  Mr.  Cook  continued  at  this  school  but  a  few 
years,  owing  principally  to  a  feeling  of  opposition  that  had 
been  very  improperly  awakened  in  the  Church  against  the 
institution,  and  which  he  found  it  impossible  to  overcome. 

lie  subsequently  removed  to  Harrodsburg,  in  the  same 
State,  where  he  continued  for  some  time  as  principal  of  a 
respectable  academy. 

He  finally  removed  to  Logan  county,  Ky.,  where  he  per- 
manently settled  his  rapidly  increasing  family  on  a  small 
farm  some  three  miles  north  of  Russellville.  Here  he  re- 
mained to  the  day  of  his  death,  teaching  sometimes  in  town 
and  at  other  times  in  his  own  immediate  neighborhood.     In 


VALENTINE    COOK.  189 

all  these  different  positions  and  relations,  lie  shared  to  the 
fullest  possible  extent  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the 
people,  as  an  able,  devoted,  and  self-sacrificing  minister  of 
the  gospel;  while  as  a  teacher  he  was  regarded  by  all  as 
among  the  most  competent  and  successful  in  the  country. 
He  had  the  honor  of  numbering  among  his  pupils  some  who 
have  subsequently  been  distinguished  as  eminent  physicians, 
lawyers,  and  statesmen. 

But  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  as  the  instrument  or- 
dained of  God  for  the  accomplishment  of  human  salvation, 
was  his  one  great  work.  However  he  may  have  been  em- 
ployed, whether  at  the  handles  of  his  plough,  in  the  school- 
room, at  his  workshop,  or  presiding  over  the  interests  of  a 
college,  the  winning  of  souls  to  Christ  by- the  proclamation 
of  his  truth  was  the  all-absorbing  theme  of  his  meditations, 
the  great  cardinal  object  to  which  his  thoughts  and  efforts 
were  constantly  directed.  At  all  times,  and  in  every  place, 
he  was  ready  to  preach  Jesus  and  him  crucified.  By  day 
and  by  night,  during  the  week  as  well  as  on  the  holy  Sab- 
bath, he  was  ever  ready  to  proclaim  the  glad  tidings  of  sal- 
vation to  a  perishing  world.  To  him  the  place  was  nothing. 
"Wherever  the  people  were  assembled  and  willing  to  hear — 
whether  in  the  church,  the  court-house,  the  school-room,  or 
the  market-place,  in  the  palaces  of  the  rich  or  the  hovels 
of  the  poor,  to  the  slaves  in  their  quarters  or  the  vast  mul- 
titudes on  the  camp-ground,  he  was  never  found  unprepared 
to  preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.  ISTo  ordinary 
circumstances  could  prevent  the  full  and  faithful  discharge 
of  his  duty  in  this  respect.  His  movements  were  never 
affected  by  the  inclemency  of  the  season.  Through  summer's 
heat  and  winter's  cold,  amid  falling  rains  and  driving  snows, 
he  was  always  at  his  appointments,  holding  forth  in  strains 


190  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

of  melting  sweetness  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God.     The 
conversion  of  sinners,  whether  rich  or  poor,  learned  or  illite- 
rate, bond  or  free,  was  the  all -engrossing  subject   of  his 
thoughts  and  the  all-controlling  intent  of  his  life.    His  word, 
whether  in  the  pulpit,  the  class-room,  the  prayer-meeting,  or 
the  social  circle,  at  all  times  and  in  every  place,  was  quick 
and  powerful,  "sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword,  piercing 
even  to  the  dividing  asunder  of  bou!  and  spirit,  and  of  the 
joints  and  marrow."     Wherever  his  lot  was  cast,  he  was  the 
instrument  of  bringing  many  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth. 
Through  his  influence  the  ignoranl  were  enlightened,  the  un- 
believing convinced,  the  careless  awakened,  and  weeping 
penitents  pointed  to  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the 
sin  of  the  world.    Like  his  blessed  Master,  he  was  constantly 
going  about  doing  good.    The  ministry  and  membership  of 
the  Church  everywhere  felt  the  potency  of  his  example,  and 
in  many  instances  were  Led  to  put  on  the  armor  anew  for  the 
battle.    Prayer-meetings  were  established,  classes  revived, 
-  raised  up,  and  new  churches  organized,  wherever 
his  labors  were  employed  or  his  influence  felt.    There  are 
hundreds,  and  perhaps  thousands,  still  living  throughout  the 
great  West,  who,  under  God,  are  indebted  to  the  instrument- 
ality of  Valentine  Cook  for  all  their  hopes  of  immortality  and 
eternal  life. 

"We  will  not  be  surprised  at  this  when  it  is  recollected 
that  few  men  ever  read  the  Holy  Bcriptures  with  bo  much 
prayerful  solicitude  to  understand  and  practice  and  proclaim 
the  whole  counsel  of  God  to  men.  The  Bible  was  his  con- 
stant companion,  at  home  and  abroad,  in  public  and  in 
private.  Other  books  he  read,  as  opportunity  served  and  as 
occasions  required,  but  the  Bible  he  read  every  day.  Whether 
found  in  his  private  study,  the  school-room,  the  field,  or  the 


VALENTINE    COOK.  191 

forest,  lie  always  had  the  precious  volume  at  command.  He 
was  often  observed  poring  over  its  sacred  pages  when  tra- 
velling on  horseback,  as  well  as  on  foot.  So  thoroughly  was 
he  posted  in  the  teaching  of  the  inspired  penmen  that  no 
passage  could  be  called  for  that  he  was  not  able  to  repeat,  or 
to  which  he  could  not  turn  in  a  few  moments.  Of  him  it 
may  in  truth  be  said,  he  was  mighty  in  the  Scriptures.  In 
the  pulpit,  he  usually  announced  the  book,  chapter,  and  verse 
of  his  quotations ;  and  when  he  deemed  it  necessary,  as  he 
sometimes  did,  for  the  establishment  of  an  important  posi- 
tion, it  was  truly  astonishing  with  what  facility  he  could  call 
up  his  proofs  from  all  the  different  parts  of  the  inspired 
volume. 

Among  the  causes  of  his  great  success  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  the  plainness  of  his  style  and  the  simplicity  of  his 
manner  should  not  be  overlooked.  No  one  ever  complained 
of  not  being  able  to  understand  him.  When  discussing  "  the 
deep  things  of  God,"  his  positions  were  always  so  clearly 
stated,  and  so  fully  and  appropriately  sustained  and  illus- 
trated, that  the  unlettered  African  found  as  little  difficulty  in 
comprehending  his  meaning  as  the  most  thoroughly  edu- 
cated. The  principal  ground  of  complaint  among  unbeliev- 
ing, impenitent  sinners,  and  cold-hearted,  worldly-minded 
professors  was,  that  they  understood  him  too  well  for  their 
comfort  and  quietude.     A  wicked  man  once  remarked  that 

he  could  listen  to  the  Eev.  Mr. all  day  and  sleep  soundly 

all  the  following  night ;  but  added,  "  I  never  get  a  comfortable 
night's  rest  for  at  least  a  month  after  hearing  Father  Cook 
preach  one  sermon.  He  always  says  something  that  I  can't 
forget." 

At  a  camp-meeting  held  in  Southern  Kentucky,  while  Mr. 
Cook  was  preaching  on  these  words,  "  Because  there  is  wrath, 


192  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

beware  lest  be  take  thee  away  with  bis  stroke;  tben  a  great 
ransom  cannot  deliver  thee,"  a  gentleman  arose  in  tbe  con- 
gregation and  exclaimed,  under  great  excitement,  "Stop! 
stop!  till  I  can  get  out  of  this  place!"  Mr.  Cook  imme- 
diately paused,  and  said,  "Let  us  pray  lor  that  man."  The 
gentleman  started  from  hii  place,  but  just  as  be  reached  the 
outskirts  of  the  assembly,  be  sunk  to  the  earth,  and  began 
to  cry  aloud  for  mercy. 

Valentine  Cook  literally  preached  the  gospel  with  the  Holy 
Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven,  and  with  so  much  sincerity, 
affection,  and   tend.!  not    only  to  arrest  and  fix  tbo 

attention,  but  to  carry  tli<- truth  directly  home  to  the  hearts 
of  bis  hearers.  Though  deeply  read  iu  the  arts  and  Bcieu 
and  possessing  as  intimate  a  knowledge  ^i'  the  original  lan- 
guages a-  any  man  of  bis  day,  be  made  no  Unnecessary  dis- 
play of  bis  learning;  ami,  excepl  in  controversy,  wu  seldom 
ever  known  to  recite  the  original  in  the  pulpit.  In  the  eluci- 
dation and  enfbrcemenl  of  bis  subjects,  he  sometimes  alluded 
to  science,  philosophy,  and  history,  and  in  fact  to  every  thing 
within  tbe  range  of  his  knowledge.  This  however,  he  al- 
ways did  in  a  manner  so  perfectly  plain  and  simple  that  the 
•  ignorant  and  unlearned  could  not  possibly  fail  to  under- 
stand bis  meaning.  He  studiously  avoided  metaphysical 
discussions.  His  subjects  were  always  strictly  evangelical, 
and  generally  well  adapted  to  the  occasions.  In  their  dis- 
CUSSion,  the  important  points  were  generally  illustrated  and 
enforced  with  BUCh  well-known  facts  and  familiar  circum- 
stances as  to  make  a  deep  and  lasting  impression  on  tbo 
minds  of  bis  bearers. 

Mr.  Cook  was  not  what  has  been  usually  considered  a 
methodical  preacher.  lie  seldom  entered  on  a  labored  argu- 
ment;   but  tben  he   so   seized   on  tbe   great  fundamental 


VALENTINE    COOK.  193 

features  of  the  Christian  system,  and  discussed  them  in  a 
manner  so  very  original,  and  with  a  spirit  so  truly  evan- 
gelical, as  to  make  a  most  salutary  impression  on  the  vast 
crowds  that  everywhere  attended  his  ministry.  Such  was 
his  extraordinary  manner  in  communicating  the  truth  to  the 
minds  of  his  hearers,  that  of  the  thousands  still  living  who 
may  have  occasionally  heard  him  preach,  not  one  perhaps 
can  be  found  that  does  not  retain  a  lively  recollection  of 
much  that  fell  from  his  lips.  "We  have  conversed  with  many 
who,  though  they  never  heard  him  but  once,  could  call  up  the 
leading  positions  of  his  sermon,  as  well  as  the  principal  facts 
and  incidents  by  which  they  were  enforced.  With  a  mind  so 
fully  stored  with  revealed  truth,  a  heart  so  deeply  imbued 
with  the  Holy  Spirit,  so  filled  with  the  love  of  souls,  so  free 
from  all  self-dependence,  and  withal  so  strengthened,  sus- 
tained, and  comforted  by  the  power  of  a  living  faith — a  faith 
that  knew  not  to  stagger  at  the  promises  of  God — no  one 
need  be  astonished  at  the  almost  miraculous  results  that 
everywhere  crowned  his  labors. 

But  in  addition  to  his  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  the  plainness  and  simplicity  of  his  style  and 
manner,  it  should  be  recollected  that  he  was  preeminently  a 
man  of  prayer.  The  habit  of  praying  in  secret  three  times 
a  day,  which  he  formed  at  an  early  period  of  his  Christian 
course,  was  never  abandoned  or  even  modified.  On  occa- 
sions of  special  interest,  his  whole  heart,  as  well  as  his  whole 
time,  was  almost  exclusively  given  up  to  prayer.  In  his 
mighty  wrestlings  with  God,  he  appears  generally  to  have 
prevailed.  The  following,  in  substance,  was  received  by  the 
writer  from  the  lips  of  his  bereaved  widow  a  few  months 
subsequent  to   his   death.     "  Soon   after  our   settlement  in 

that  neighborhood,"  she   said,  "there  being  no  Methodist 
13 


194  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

society  near  us,  my  husband  said  to  me  one  evening,  as  we 
were  sitting  beneath  some  forest  trees  that  stood  in  the  yard, 
'  Mv  dear,  what  do  you  think  of  our  having  a  meeting-house 
in  that  grove  V  I  remarked  that  there  was  but  little  prospect 
of  such  an  occurrence.  'Well,'  said  lie,  'I  have  heen  pray- 
ing for  direction  on  the  subject  for  some  time,  and  I  have 
become  strongly  impressed  with  the  belief  that  it'  we  were 
to  appoint  a  camp-meeting  out  there  in  the  grove,  our  neigh- 
bors and  friends  from  a  distance  would  help  us  to  support  it; 
and  I  am  fully  satisfied  that  the  result  would  be  the  eon- 
ion  of  a  sufficient  Dumber  of  the  people  t«>  form  a  good 
society  and  build  a  comfortable  house  of  worship;'  and  after 
a  little  pause,  he  added, '  I  think  we  must  make  the  attempt.' 
I  knew  him  s«>  well,  and  had  bo  Beldom  knows  any  of  his 
plans  for  doing  good  to  fail,  that  I  readily  assented.  The 
ting  was  accordingly  appointed — the  neighbors  cheerfully 
in  sustaining  it — many  were  awakened  and  con- 
verted— a  fine  society  was  organized  ;  and  that  meeting- 
house,-' pointing  to  a  respectable  hewed-log  church  that 
stood  on  a  little  elevation  some  two  or  three  hundred  yards 
from  the  family  residence,  "was  soon  erected." 

Another  instance  of  his   faith    and    power  with    God   in 
prayer  was  received  at  the  same  time  and  from  the  same 

source.     At   one   time,  she   said,  their   class -leader,  T 

G ,  was  taken  very  ill.     Her  husband  Was  with  him  most 

of  the  time,  and  was  greatly  interested  on  his  account.  The 
case  at  length  was  pronounced  hopeless  by  his  physicians. 
Mr.  Cook  coming  into  the  room  when  it  was  supposed  the 
sick  man  was  actually  dying,  approached  his  bed  and  said  to 

him   in  a  distinct  tone  of  voice,  "Brother  G ,  do  you 

know  me?"  "0  yes,"  was  the  reply.  "Do  you  desire," 
said  he,  "that  we  continue  to  pray  for  your  recovery?"     "I 


VALENTINE    COOK.  195 

leave  that,"  said  the  afflicted  man,  "  to  you  and  them."  He 
then  walked  into  the  room  where  the  physicians  were  in  con- 
sultation.     "What,"   said  he,  "is   the   conclusion?     Must 

Brother  G die  at  this  time?"     "He  must,  without  the 

intervention  of  Almighty  power,"  was  the  reply.  ""Well 
then,"  said  Mr.  Cook,  "I'll  go  to  Him  in  whose  hands  are 
the  issues  of  life  and  death.  I  shall  file  two  pleas  for  his 
restoration :  the  one  on  behalf  of  his  family,  and  the  other 
on  account  of  the  Church."  He  then  retired  to  the  woods. 
In  less  than  an  hour  he  returned,  and  was  told  that  there 
was  no  change  for  the  better.  He  again  retired,  and  did  not 
return  till  some  time  after  dark.     "When  he  entered  the  sick 

man's  room,  he  exclaimed,  "Brother  G ,  the  Lord  has 

heard  our  prayers :  your  life  will  be  prolonged,  for  the  sake 
of  the  Church  and  your  family."  He  immediately  left  for 
home,  declining  to  exchange  a  word  with  any  as  he  retired. 

In  less  than  a  week,  Brother  G was  walking  about  his 

room,  and  is  living  to  this  day,  though  evidently  on  the 
margin  of  eternity. 

That  Valentine  Cook  had  great  power  with  God  in  prayer 
will  not  be  denied  by  any  who  ever  knew  him.  He  very 
seldom  entered  the  pulpit  without  having  previously  retired 
to  some  secret  place  for  the  renewal  of  his  commission  and 
the  strengthening  of  his  faith.  On  many  occasions  his 
brethren  and  friends  had  to  hunt  him  up  and  bring  him  from 
his  knees  to  the  sacred  desk.  He  was  so  thoroughly  con- 
vinced that  without  the  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit  no  merely 
human  preparation  could  suffice  for  the  successful  proclama- 
tion of  the  gospel,  that  he  was  never  willing  to  enter  the 
sacred  place  without  a  conscious  sense  of  the  Divine  presence. 
The  matter  of  his  sermons  was  always  good,  strictly  evan- 
gelical, sufficiently  varied,  and  abundant.     His  word  was 


190  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

generally  accompanied  by  the  demonstrative  power  of  the 
Lloly  Spirit,  lie  had  no  confidence  whatever  in  uthe  arm 
of  flesh:"  his  sufficiency  was  all  of  God.  There  must  have 
.  Bomething  very  remarkable  in  his  manner  of  preaching. 
The  truth  as  delivered  by  him  was  most  generally  so  im- 
printed on  the  minds  of  his  hearers  as  never  to  be  forgotten. 
The  writer  now  has  in  his  possession  a  number  of  Letters  ad- 
-■•1  to  his  youngest  daughter,  Mrs.  Susan  lieaumont, 
when  she  was  making  an  effort  to  colleet  materials  for  a  life 
of  her  lather,  many  of  whieh  were  written  by  individuals 
who  never  heard  that  great  and  good  man  hut  once  or  tv 
Such  was  the  impression  made  on  their  minds,  that,  with 
scarce  an  exception,  they  give  as  rail  and  circumstantial  an 
account  of  the  discourses  they  heard  as  though  th<y  were 
giving  a  relation  of  something  that  had  just  taken  place, 
whereas,  in  mosl  "hey  were  drawing  upon  their  memo- 

ries for  near  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

We  give  the  following  as  a  sample  of  the  whole.  It  is 
from  the  pen  of  a  distinguished  living  minister:  "When 
quite  a  youth,"  ].  ,  "it  was  my  privilege  to  attend  an 

Annual  Conference  at  KTorvel's  camp-ground.  There  1  .-aw 
and  heard,  for  the  first  and  last  time,  the  venerable  Valentine 
Cook.  The  congregation  was  immense.  His  Bubject  was 
the  fall  of  Judas.  He  dwelt  at  some  length  on  the  mer- 
ry motives  by  which  he  was  actuated,  his  treachery,  du- 
plicity, etc.     Never  .-hall  I  forget   the  dark  and  horrible 

picture  which  he  drew  of  a  faithless  minister  of  the  cross 
of  Christ.  All  covered  with  guilt  and  Bhame,  he  held  him 
up  before  his  God  and  a  congregated  world  ;  and  then,  with 
a  look  that  has  never  been  effaced  from  my  mind,  he  ex- 
claimed, in  tones  that  seemed  to  startle  the  entire  assembly, 
*It  were  better  for  that  man  that  he  had  never  been  horn  !' 


VALENTINE    COOK.  197 

Tlie  shock  upon  the  members  of  the  Conference  was  like 
that  of  an  earthquake.  Such  was  the  effect  upon  my  own 
young  heart  that  I  found  myself  involuntarily  saying,  'I'll 
never  be  a  preacher.'  Turning  from  the  dreadful  doom  of  a 
Judas,  at  which  my  heart  had  shrunk  back  with  horror,  he 
soon  brought  our  minds  to  rest  on  the  more  attractive  ele- 
ments of  ministerial  character  as  developed  in  the  lives  and 
labors  of  the  faithful.  The  portraiture  of  the  great  apostle 
of  the  Gentiles  was  evidently  in  his  mind's  eye.  He  pic- 
tured, as  few  could  have  done,  the  toils,  privations,  persecu- 
tions, and  manifold  afflictions  of  a  truly  Christian  minister ; 
and  then,  in  striking  contrast,  his  countenance  glowing  as 
with  celestial  light,  he  sketched  his  triumphs,  glanced  at  his 
final  exit  from  these  mortal  shores,  and  followed  him  in  his 
lofty  flight  to  his  endless  home.  The  language  of  my  heart 
was  suddenly  changed,  and  I  found  myself  involuntarily  say- 
ing, '  0  that  God  would  call  me  to  be  a  preacher  of  the  gospel !' 
"In  the  course  of  his  remarks,  he  adverted  to  the  great 
apostolic  promise, '  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  to  the  end 
of  the  world.'  He  maintained  that  Christ  would  be  with  his 
faithful  ministers  at  all  times  and  in  every  place,  to  direct, 
sustain,  and  comfort.  Here  he  paused,  and  wiping  away  the 
tears  that  fell  like  dewdrops  from  his  face,  he  related  the  fol- 
lowing incident  which  occurred  at  an  early  period  of  his 
ministry.  "WTien  wending  his  way  through  the  Alleghany 
Mountains  at  a  late  hour  on  Saturday  evening,  a  lonely 
stranger,  knowing  and  known  of  none,  he  began  to  reflect 
on  his  chances  for  the  night  and  the  approaching  Sabbath. 
He  had  already  been  several  times  repulsed  in  his  applica- 
tions. At  length  he  saw  a  neat  dwelling  on  the  side  of  a 
neighboring  mountain.  He  rode  up,  with  but  little  hope  of 
success.     A  well-dressed  lady  came  to  the  door.     In  a  sub- 


108  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

clued  tone  of  voice,  he  inquired,  '  Can  you  accommodate  a 
stranger  for  the  night  ?'  She  looked  at  him  for  a  moment, 
and  .said,  'Yes,  and  to-morrow  too.  You  are  the  very  man 
I  -;iw  in  my  dream  last  night.'  'Hallelujah  !'  exclaimed  the 
old  hero  of  the  cross,  'I  saw  the  hand  of  God  in  it  all.'  The 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  commenced  the  work  that  night.  lie 
preached  to  the  people  the  next  day:  a  glorious  revival  hrokc 
out  iii  the  neighborhood:  upwards  of  seventy  souls  were  con- 
verted to  God:  a  Methodisl  Bocietywaa  organized,  and  the 
whole  settlement  brought  under  the  influence  of  the  gospel 
re  I  left  the  place.  "Well  did  he  exclaim,  as  he  brought 
thai  mighty  effort  to  a  close,  'Brethren,  the  Lord  of  hosts  is 
with  us ;  the  God  of  Jacob  is  our  refuge  !'  lie  took  his  scat 
amid  the  falling  tears  and  ascending  shouts  of  preachers  and 

I pie.     T  shall  never  cease  to  be  grateful  for  the  privilege 

of  having  heard  one  sermon  from  such  a  mighty  man  of 

Valentine  Cook  had  his  peculiarities,  and,  we  might  add, 
his  eccentricities  also.     Being  almost  constantly  absorbed  in 

thought,  and  withal   having  a  mind  so  constituted  that  when 

directed  to  any  particular  subjed  he  Beemed  to  lose  sight  iu 
a  great  measure  of  every  thing  else,  he  was  generally  re- 
garded as  an  absent-minded  man.  It  was  related  of  him 
that  soon  after  his  marriage  his  wife  accompanied  him  to  one 
of  his  appointments.  After  preaching  an  excellent  sermon, 
he  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  back  to  the  residence  of  his 
father-in-law,  where  they  were  then  living.  When  he  entered 
the  hall-door,  Mrs.  Slaughter  very  naturally  asked  him  what 
had  lieeome  of  his  wife.  lie  was  deeply  mortified,  and  im- 
mediately started  hack  in  pursuit  of  her.     When  they] 

eiving  that  her  feelings  were  much  wounded,  he  burst 
into  tears,  and  made  every  explanation  that  the  nature  of  the 


VALENTINE    COOK.  199 

case  would  admit — assuring  her  that  for  the  future  he  would 
try  to  do  better,  which  he  no  doubt  did ;  but  to  little  or  no 
purpose:  the  like  occurrences  marked  his  whole  history, 
notwithstanding  his  oft-repeated  efforts  to  divest  himself  of 
this  liability. 

He  was  frequently  known  to  leave  his  horse  tied  up  in  the 
woods,  or  safely  housed  in  the  stable  of  some  friend  where 
he  had  preached,  and  walk  all  the  way  home,  never  once 
thinking  of  his  horse  until  interrogated  on  the  subject  by 
his  wife  or  children.  On  one  occasion,  he  started  for  an  ap- 
pointment some  six  or  eight  miles  from  his  residence.  "When 
but  a  short  distance  from  the  chapel  at  which  he  was  to 
preach,  he  turned  aside  into  the  barrens,  as  was  his  custom, 
for  the  purpose  of  spending  a  while  in  private  devotion.  On 
remounting  his  horse  and  returning  to  the  road,  he  un- 
wittingly took  the  wrong  course,  and  was  jogging  along 
towards  home,  humming  a  favorite  tune,  when  met  by  some 
of  his  friends  who  were  going  to  hear  him  preach.  "  "Well, 
brethren,"  said  the  old  gentleman  very  pleasantly,  "are  you 
not  going  the  wrong  way?"  They  thought  not.  ""We  are 
going  to  Bibb's  Chapel  to  hear  you  preach,  and  this  is  cer- 
tainly the  right  road."  He  appeared  much  astonished;  but, 
yielding  the  point  in  dispute,  he  turned  about  and  accom- 
panied them  to  the  church,  being  much  more  inclined  than 
any  of  the  company  to  laugh  at  his  blunder. 

Mr.  Cook  was  remarkably  fond  of  music,  instrumental  as 
well  as  vocal.  He  was  a  good  singer  himself,  and  wherever 
he  went,  encouraged  the  young  people  especially  to  learn  to 
sing,  never  forgetting  the  apostolic  injunction,  "with  the 
spirit,  and  with  the  understanding  also."  He  used  to  say 
that  he  never  felt  fully  prepared  for  preaching  until  he  heard 
a  good,  old-fashioned  hymn,  or  evangelical  song,  well  sung. 


200  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

"Wliile  he  lived  iu  the  towns  of  Kentucky,  he  would  some- 
times sit  for  hours  at  his  window  by  night,  listening,  with 
the  most  intense  delight,  to  the  soft  and  mellow  strains  of 
the  flute  and  violin,  or  to  the  more  shrill  and  piercing  notes 
of  the  clarionet.  When  he  resided  in  the  vicinity  of  Russell- 
ville,  the  young  men  of  the  town,  knowing  his  fondness  for 
music,  were  in  the  habil  of  giving  him  serenades  at  late 
hours  of  the  night.  On  BUch  occasions,  they  always  received 
a  cordial  welcome,  and  wen-  more  than  remunerated  for  their 

trouhle  by  his  fatherly  counsels,  which  were  usually  given  in 

a  manner  so  very  impressive  as  never  to  1"'  erased  from  their 
memory.  Incidents  and  anecdotes  related  by  this  venerable 
apostle  of  Methodism  are  still  recited  with  peculiar  interest 
by  Borne  who  participated  in  those  nocturnal  visitations.  But 
of  Mr.  Cook's  peculiarities  we  have  said  enough,  perhaps  too 
much,  although  a  volume  might  he  filled  with  Buch  matter. 

A  short  tine-  previous  to  Ins  death,  he  attended  a  camp- 
meeting,  some  eight  or  ten  miles  from  home.  As  usual,  ho 
labored  with  great  zeal  and  success.  lie  preached  on  the 
Sabbath  to  avast  crowd,  from  these  words:  "For  our  light 
affliction,  which  is  hut  for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far 
more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory."  2  Cor.  iv.  17. 
After  a  solemn  and  very  impressive  pause,  he  lifted  hi-  i 
to  1  and  said,  "What!  our  afflictions  work  for  us  a 

weight  of  glory — a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory!"  and  added,  "  I  believe  it  with  all  my  heart,  because 
thou,  O  .God,  hast  revealed  it  in  this  blessed  volume!"  The 
effect  upon  the  congregation  is  said  to  have  been  very  re- 
markable,  and  the  discourse  throughout  has  been  represented 
as  among  the  most  able  and  effective  that  he  ever  delivered. 
This  was  the  last  sermon  he  preached,  as  I  was  informed  hy 
his  weeping  widow  a  few  months  after  his  death. 


VALENTINE    COOK.  201 

On  his  return  home  from  this  meeting,  he  was  violently- 
attacked  with  bilious  fever.  His  case  from  the  first  was  con- 
sidered doubtful,  and  finally  hopeless.  Conscious  of  his 
approaching  dissolution,  he  called  his  wife  and  children  to 
his  bedside,  and  after  taking  a  last  earthly  leave,  he  com- 
mitted them,  with  great  apparent  confidence,  to  the  guidance 
and  protection  of  Almighty  Goodness.  When  asked  by  one 
of  his  neighbors,  a  few  moments  before  his  death,  how  he 
felt,  he  answered,  "I  scarcely  know;"  and  then  added, 
"  When  I  think  of  Jesus,  and  of  living  with  him  for  ever,  I 
am  so  filled  with  the  love  of  God  that  I  scarcely  know 
whether  I  am  in  the  body  or  out  of  the  body."  These  were 
the  last  words  that  fell  from  his  lips.  He  died  as  he  had 
lived,  strong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God. 

A  few  months  after  his  death,  in  company  with  his  discon- 
solate widow  and  a  large  group  of  fatherless  children,  I 
walked  out  from  the  family  residence  to  the  lovely  place 
where  the  mortal  remains  of  that  great  man  had  been  so 
recently  deposited.  We  stood  and  looked  in  silence  at  the 
honored  spot.  It  was  a  solemn  scene,  too  deeply  affecting 
and  too  mournfully  sacred  for  the  utterance  of  a  consoling 
word.  I  heard  the  heavy  breathings  of  the  mother's  sad- 
dened heart,  and  saw  the  falling  tears  of  her  fatherless  chil- 
dren as  they  stood  around  her.  We  retired,  full  of  the  faith 
that  looks  not  at  the  things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things 
which  are  not  seen.  I  thought  of  the  judgment-day,  of  the 
resurrection-morn,  of  the  glory  that  awaits  the  faithful  be- 
yond the  shores  of  time.  My  recollections  of  that  melan- 
choly visitation  will  never  be  obliterated  from  my  mind. 

In  conformity  with  his  oft -repeated  wishes,  Father  Cook 
was  buried  in  the  midst  of  a  beautiful  grove  of  young  cedars 
near  the  centre  of  his  little  farm.     To  this  day,  no  lofty 


202  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

column  of  enduring  marble,  nor  even  a  rude  stone  from  the 
surrounding  hills,  marks  the  place  of  his  interment.  The 
mighty  dead  need  nothing  of  the  sort  to  perpetuate  their 
memory.  Their  monuments  will  be  found  in  their  deeds. 
The  name  of  Valentine  Cook  is  embalmed  in  the  hearts  of 
thousands  who  still  live  upon  earth ;  and  -will  doubtless  be 
revered  through  all  the  ages  of  eternity  by  vast  multitudes 
who  through  his  instrumentality  were  plucked  as  "brands 
from  the  burning." 


THOMAS    L.    DOUGLASS.  203 


THOMAS  LOGAN  DOUGLASS. 

BY    J.    B.    M'FEERIN,    D.  D. 

To  trace  the  rise  and  progress  of  Christianity  is  a  most 
interesting  and  delightful  task.  It  never  fails  to  impress  the 
heart  of  the  serious  inquirer  with  the  divinity  of  its  origin 
and  the  constant  supervising  care  of  Him  who  said  to  his 
apostles,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  to  the  end  of  the 
world."  Inseparably  connected  with  the  history  of  the 
Church  is  the  history  of  the  ministry :  the  one  necessarily 
involves  the  other.  The  ministry  is  an  essential  part  of  the 
Church ;  indeed,  in  point  of  time,  the  institution  of  the  min- 
istry preceded  the  organization  of  the  Church.  Moreover, 
the  ministry  gives  tone  and  character  to  the  Church.  The 
Church  is  known  by  her  ministers ;  and  the  prosperity  of  the 
Church,  under  God,  depends  in  a  measure  upon  the  piety, 
zeal,  and  fidelity  of  her  chief  ministers. 

No  Church  organization  in  modern  times,  we  judge,  can 
boast  of  a  more  faithful,  devoted,  and  self-sacrificing  ministry 
than  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  founders  of 
Methodism  were  celebrated  for  their  deep  piety  and  entire 
consecration  to  God,  as  well  as  for  their  learning  and  talents ; 
and  the  first  American  preachers  were  never  excelled  in  self- 
denial  and  apostolic  zeal.     And  while  we  give  due  credit  to 


204  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

all  who  toil  in  the  Master's  vineyard,  and  appreciate  the 
labors  of  those  pioneers  of  Methodism  who  introduced  the 
gospel  in  the  North  or  East,  yet  every  one  familiar  with  the 
history  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  Church  in  America 
will  concede  that  those  who  bore  tin.-  tidings  of  salvation  to 
the  wilds  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  were  more  abundant  in 
labors  and  sacrifices  than  their  brethren  in  other  quarters. 
It  is  the  glory  of  the  Methodisl  Church  that  her  ministers 
arc  always  found  on  the  frontiers.  They  build  on  no  other 
man's  foundation ;  but,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  they  go  among 
the  poor  and  the  destitute,  and  raise  the  banner  of  the  cross 
where  the  people  would  but  for  them  sit  in  the  region  and 

shadow  of  death. 

In  no  portion  of  the  South-west  has  Methodism  been  more 
successful  than  in  Tennessee.  Its  membership  is  very  large, 
and  the  number  of  its  ministers  great.  It  is  the  Leading  de- 
nomination in  the  State,  to  say  nothing  of  the  vast  multi- 
tudes of  Tennessee  Methodists  who  have  gone  farther  West. 
Perhaps  no  State  in  the  Southern  Connection  has  sent  abroad 
BS  many  ministers  of  the  gospel  as  Tennessee.  They  are 
found  in  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Missouri,  Texas, 
California,  and  among  the  Indian  tribes;  in  addition  to 
scores  who  are  laboring  in  other  States  and  Territories. 
Why  Methodism  should  have  taken  so  deep  root  in  the 
State,  and  have  spread  its  influence  so  extensively,  is  worthy 
of  inquiry.  Were  we  called  upon  to  solve  the  question,  we 
should  perhaps  attribute  the  fact  to  two  causes — keeping 
always  in  view  its  doctrines,  which  we  regard  as  scriptural : 
the  first  is,  the  early  introduction  of  Methodism  in  the  new 
settlements;  and,  secondly,  the  zeal  and  ability  of  the 
pioneer  preachers. 

No  permanent  settlements  were  made  in  Middle  Tennessee 


THOMAS    L.     DOUGLASS.  205 

till  about  tlio  year  1780.  A  few  adventurous  men  encamped 
on  the  Cumberland  in  the  year  1779,  and  raised  a  crop  of 
corn  where  Nashville  now  stands ;  but  not  until  1780  did 
the  colonists  arrive.  The  first  permanent  colony  was  then 
planted  in  Tennessee,  west  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains. 
And  even  then  the  few  inhabitants  had  to  protect  themselves 
from  ferocious  savages  by  block-houses  and  other  fortifica- 
tions. In  this  condition  the  colonists  lived  for  several  years ; 
consequently,  the  settlements  were  very  few  and  difficult  of 
access.  Nevertheless,  the  love  of  Christ  constrained  the  heart 
of  the  Methodist  itinerant,  and  he  was  soon  found  in  these 
fortifications  preaching  Christ  and  him  crucified. 

By  referring  to  the  Annual  Minutes,  we  find  that  in  1787 
Benjamin  Ogden  was  appointed  to  Cumberland.  His  work 
embraced  Nashville  and  the  few  settlements  then  on  the 
Cumberland  river,  extending  perhaps  into  Kentucky.  From 
the  date  of  the  Minutes,  and  the  usual  time  of  holding  the 
Conference,  we  presume  Mr.  Ogden  reached  his  new  field  of 
labor  in  the  autumn  of  1786.  Of  this,  however,  there  is  no 
positive  proof.  The  result  of  this  year's  missionary  work 
may  be  known  in  part  by  the  statistics :  the  Minutes  show 
the  numbers  in  society  on  the  Cumberland  Circuit  to  be 
fifty-nine  white  and  four  colored  members.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  Methodism  in  Tennessee  west  of  the  mountains. 

Previous  to  this  date,  one  or  two  Circuits  had  been  formed 
in  Upper  East  Tennessee,  where  societies  had  been  organized, 
and  a  few  hundred  gathered  into  the  Church. 

Mr.  Ogden  was  a  plain,  strong,  effective  preacher,  and  did 
much  in  planting  Methodism  in  the  "Western  wilds.  He  was 
much  beloved  by  the  people,  a  few  of  whom  still  remain, 
cherishing  the  memory  of  the  venerable  man. 

The  Minutes  of  1788  show  that  David  Combs  and  Barnabas 


206  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

McHenry  were  appointed  to  Cumberland.  These  were  good 
and  faithful  men,  the  latter  of  whom  grew  to  be  a  giant  in 
moral  and  intellectual  strength.  They  had  a  prosperous  year, 
the  returns  showing  the  number  to  have  increased  to  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five. 

From  this  small  beginning,  Methodism  grew  and  increased 
in  fa\-<>r  with  the  people,  till  "  Cumberland"  became  a  portion 
of  a  Presiding  Elder's  District  in  the  West.  The  first  Dis- 
trict seems  to  have  been  formed  in  1789,  and  consisted  of  the 

following  charges,  viz.  : 

Lexington — James  Haw,  Wilson  Lee,  and  Stephen  Brooks. 

1 1  ,,,-///, — Barnabas  McHenry  and  Peter  Massie. 

c  mberiand — Thomas  Williamson  and  Joshua  Hartley. 

1"  ancia  Poythress  was  (he  Presiding  Elder. 

In  1796,  the  General  Conference  divided  the  whole  Con- 
nection into  "sis  yearly  Conferences,"  one  of  which  was  de- 
nominated kk  the  Western  Conference."  It  was  "  for  the  States 
of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee:  provided,  that  the  Bishops  shall 
have  authority  to  appoint  other  yearly  Conferences  in  the  in- 
terval of  the  General  Conference,  if  a  sufficiency  of  new 
Circuits  be  anywhere  formed  for  that  purpose." 

The  first  Western  Conference  met  at  Bethel  School,  Ey\, 
May,  1797.  It  embraced  two  Districts,  and  seems  to  have 
taken  one  or  two  Circuits  in  South-west  cm  Virginia.  The 
following  we  copy  from  the  Minutes  of  that  year: 

John  Kobler,  Presiding  Elder. 

Francis  Poythress,  Supernumerary. 

Limestone — Aquila  Jones. 

Ilinkstone — John  Page. 

Lexington — Benjamin  Lakin. 

Danville — Jeremiah  Lawson,  Thomas  Allen. 
'  River — Henry  Smith,  Williams  Kavanaugh. 


THOMAS    L.    DOUGLASS.  207 

Cumberland — Thomas  Wilkerson,  Obadiah  Strange. 

Jonathan  Bird,  Presiding  Elder. 

Green — John  Buxton,  Robert  "Wilkerson. 

Holston — "William  Burke,  "William  Duzan. 

Russell — John  Watson. 

New  River — Joseph  Dunn. 

The  whole  membership  reported  that  year  amounted  in  the 
Tennessee  portion  of  the  Western  Conference  to  five  hundred 
and  thirty-four  whites  and  forty-two  colored. 

Within  a  few  years  after  this  date,  the  work  revived  greatly, 
and  hundreds  and  thousands  were  added  to  the  Church.  The 
year  1800  was  signally  owned  of  God,  and  wonderful  dis- 
plays of  his  power  were  seen  among  the  people.  In  the 
meantime,  the  tide  of  emigration  from  the  older  States  to 
the  rich  valleys  of  the  West  was  greatly  increased,  and  the 
cause  of  Christ  kept  pace  with  the  population;  so  that  by 
the  year  1812  the  Western  Conference  extended  its  borders 
so  as  to  embrace  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Missouri,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana.  Only  a  few  points, 
indeed,  of  this  vast  country  were  occupied,  because  the  set- 
tlements were  sparse  ;  yet  wherever  the  preachers  could  find 
an  open  door,  they  entered  in,  and  began  the  good  work  of 
saving  the  souls  of  the  people. 

The  statistics  show  that  the  Western  Conference  at  this 
period  was  composed  of  the  following  Districts,  viz. :  Hol- 
ston, Cumberland,  Nashville,  Wabash,  Kentucky,  Salt  River, 
Mississippi,  Illinois,  Miami,  and  Muskingum.  The  member- 
ship numbered  29,093  whites  and  1648  colored. 

"Well  may  we  exclaim,  WTiat  had  God  wrought !  In  about 
twenty-five  years,  a  people  that  were  no  people  had  become  a 
multitude.  The  wilderness  and  solitary  place  had  been 
made  to  blossom  as  the  rose,  and  springs  of  water  had  broken 


208  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

forth  in  the  dry  and  thirsty  land.  In  this  great  valley  that 
waa  inhabited  by  prowling  beasts  and  savage  men,  where 
muni  it  and  crnelty  had  prevailed,  the  gospel  of  peace  had 
proclaimed,  and  more  than  thirty  thousand  lost  sheep 
had  been  brought  into  the  fold. 

The  limits  allowed  for  this  brief  Bketch  will  not  permit  the 
writer  even  to  name  the  many  noble  Instruments  employed 
in  tin'  glorious  work,  m>r  to  recounl  the  Bufferings  they  en- 
dured, the  sacrifices  they  made,  the  labors  they  performed. 
Their  record  u  on  high,  and  most  of  them  have  gone  to  in- 
herit their  rich  reward.  A  few  still  linger  on  this  side  the 
stream,  but  they  stand  on  the  mountain-top,  looking  over 
into  the  promised  land.  Peaceful  and  triumphant  be  their 
exit  ! 

We  have  Baid  that  the  pioneers  of  Methodism  in  the  West 
and  South-west  were  of  untiring  zeal  and  great  ability.  In- 
deed, there  were  giants  in  those  days.  Many  of  their  names 
are  familiar:  they  are  household  words.  The  memory  of 
Ogden.  McHenry,  Poythress,  Lee,  Birchett,  liassie,  Crane, 
McKendree,  Blackman,  Walker,  WUkerson,  Thompson, 
Burke,  Gwin,  and  hundreds  more,  is  a  sweet  savor  to  the 
Church.  These  all  died* in  the  faith,  and  are  now  sharing 
with  Paul  the  crown  of  righteousness. 

The  first  ddeg  Q  leral  Conference  convened  in  Balti- 
more, May  1,  1812.  Here  the  Western  Conference  was 
divided  into  two,  the  Tennessee  and  the  Ohio  Conferences. 
The  Tennessee  Conference  held  its  first  session  at  Fountain- 
head  meeting-house,  in  Sumuer  county,  November  1,  1812. 
The  work,  as  appears  on  the  Minutes  for  the  next  year  en- 
Buing,  consisted  of  the  following  Presiding  Elders'  Districts, 
viz.:  Holston,  Nashville,  Cumberland,  Wabash,  and  Mis- 
ippi — the  remainder  of  the  Western  Conference  having 


THOMAS    L.    DOUGLASS.  209 

been  placed  in  connection  with  the  Ohio  Conference.  Em- 
braced in  these  five  Districts  there  were  fifty-one  Circuits ; 
and,  including  the  Presiding  Elders,  sixty-two  laborers  were 
employed.  The  statistics  show  that  the  membership  num- 
bered 20,633  whites,  and  2066  colored. 

The  reader  will  not  fail  to  observe  that  this  newly- 
organized  Conference  extended  from  the  south-western  bor- 
der of  Virginia  to  the  Tombigbee,  and  from  St.  Louis  to 
New  Orleans,  embracing  most  of  the  settled  portions  of  Illi- 
nois and  Southern  Indiana. 

The  second  session  of  the  Tennessee  Conference  was  held 
at  Rees's  Chapel,  near  Franklin,  Tenn,  October  1,  1813.  In 
the  appointments  for  the  ensuing  year,  a  new  name  appears 
among  the  Western  preachers :  it  is  that  which  stands  at  the 
head  of  this  sketch,  Thomas  L.  Douglass. 

Of  Mr.  Douglass's  early  history,  there  is  but  little  recorded 
which  can  be  made  available  in  this  sketch.  He  has  doubt- 
less left  valuable  documents,  if  they  could  only  be  brought 
to  light;  and  the  writer  hopes  that  a  more  extended  bio- 
graphy may  yet  be  prepared  which  will  spread  before  the 
Church  in  greater  detail  the  important  events  of  the  life  of 
one  who  labored  so  effectively  in  his  Lord's  vineyard. 

Mr.  Douglass  was  a  native  of  Person  county,  North  Caro- 
lina, born  in  the  year  1781.  Of  his  parentage  and  early 
training  we  have  but  little  information,  yet,  as  he  inherited 
a  handsome  patrimony,  we  infer  that  he  was  brought  up  in 
easy  circumstances.  His  education  was  evidently  designed 
to  prepare  him  for  a  mercantile  life,  and  he  spent  a  portion 
of  his  early  years  as  a  merchant's  clerk.  Of  the  languages 
and  sciences  he  gained  but  a  limited  knowledge  in  his  school- 
boy days. 

He  early  embraced  the  Christian  religion,  and  was  con- 
14 


210  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

verted  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Clmrcli  in  1798. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1800. 
Tims,  at  (he  early  age  of  nineteen,  he  commenced  the  work 
of  preaching  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

In  the  year  1801,  he  waa  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Virginia 
Conference,  and  appointed  to  the  Hanover  and  Williamsburg 
Circuit.      IBs    colleagues   were   William    Davis    and    Daniel 

Roe*. 

His  second  year  lie  travelled  Swanino  Circuit  alone,  in 
Salisbury  District,  North  Carolina,  then  included  in  the 
Virginia  Conference. 

At  the  end  of  his  second  year,  he  was  received  into  full 
connection,  ordained  Deacon,  and  appointed  in  charge  of  the 
Guilford  Circuit,  John  Baliew  being  his  colleague. 

His  fourth  year  was  Greensville  Circuit,  Norfolk  District : 
Daniel  Kelley  his  associa' 

At  the  close  of  this  year,  he  was  elected  and  ordained 
Elder,  and  Btationed  at  Portsmouth,  Virginia 

His  next  year  was  spent  on  the  Bertie  Circuit,  with  John 
Pinner  as  his  colleague. 

In  1807,  he  was  appointed  Presiding  Elder  of  Salisbury 
District. 

In  1808,  he  was  placed  on  the  Yadkin  District.  This  was 
rly  the  same  ground  he  occupied  the  previous  year,  but  a 
new  name  was  given  to  the  District. 

In  1809,  li<'  was  appointed  to  the  James  River  District, 
which  embraced  Richmond  and  tin-  adjacent  country. 

Die  was  continued  on  this  work  till  1813,  when  his  name 
appears  in  the  Minutes  as  being  stationed  in  Richmond,  with 
Thomas  Burge. 

During  this  year,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Tennessee  Con- 
ference, and  stationed  in  Xashvillc.     At  the  session  of  the 


THOMAS    L.    DOUGLASS.  211 

Virginia  Conference  in  February,  1813,  Mr.  Douglass  re- 
ceived his  last  appointment  in  that  division  of  the  work. 
He  was  transferred  the  October  following,  at  which  time  the 
Tennessee  Conference  convened. 

By  glancing  at  his  appointments  during  his  connection 
with  the  Virginia  Conference,  it  will  be  seen  that  though 
young  he  occupied  many  of  the  most  important  fields  of 
labor  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina.  He  was  associated,  too, 
with  men  who  took  high  rank  in  those  days ;  such  as  Jesse 
Lee,  Philip  Bruce,  Richard  Lattimore,  John  Early,  and  others. 
Mr.  Douglass  was  not  only  a  popular  preacher  in  Virginia, 
but  he  was  remarkable  for  his  success.  He  was  the  instru- 
ment, in  the  hands  of  God,  of  the  conversion  of  hundreds 
and  thousands  of  precious  souls  for  whom  Jesus  died.  He 
had,  moreover,  the  confidence  of  his  elder  brethren,  and 
especially  the  Bishops.  Hence  we  find  him,  when  he  had 
been  only  six  years  in  the  ministry,  in  charge  of  a  large  and 
important  District,  and  continued  in  this  responsible  posi- 
tion for  several  years  in  succession.  He  was  also  chosen  as 
a  representative  to  the  first  delegated  General  Conference  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  America.  This  was  held 
in  Baltimore,  May,  1812.  By  reference  to  the  Journal  of 
that  Conference,  we  find  Mr.  Douglass  on  important  com- 
mittees, and  taking  an  active  part  in  the  proceedings  of  the 
body.  During  the  session  of  the  Conference,  he  attracted 
great  attention  as  a  preacher :  crowds  assembled  to  hear  the 
eloquent  young  Virginian,  who  won  upon  the  hearts  of  the 
multitudes,  and  produced  impressions  which  were  not  erased 
for  many  years.  In  1840,  the  writer  met  many  in  Baltimore 
who  remembered  the  eloquent  and  powerful  sermons  Thomas 
L.  Douglass  preached  in  1812. 

The  first  appointment  of  Mr.  Douglass  in  Tennessee  was 


212  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH1 

the  town  of  Nashville,  then  comparatively  a  small  village. 
The  number  of  Methodists  was  small,  the  Minutes  showing 
at  the  close  of  the  year  only  thirty-eight  whites  and  thirty- 
lolored.  The  appointment  a<  ;i  separate  charge,  we  pre- 
sume, waa  only  temporary,  aa  we  find  the  town  incorporated 
Ln  the  Circuit  the  ensuing  year,  and  for  several  years  after- 
ward. Indeed,  Nashville  was  not  constituted  a  regular  sta- 
tion till  the  autumn  of  hen  John  Johnson  was  ap- 
pointed in  charge,  and  continued  for  two  yean. 

Mr.  Dougla-s  was  appointed  his  second  year  in  tjfce  Ten- 
ionference  in  charge  of  the  Nashville  District,  as  the 
successor  of  I  d  man.  Learner  Blackman. 

TheDistri  hended  all    hat  portion  of  Mid. 11.-  Ten- 

the  Cumberland  river,  and  extended  into 
North  Alabama,  embracing  all  the  territory  then  inhabited 
in  tl.  d  the  T<  te  line  and  the  Ten- 

si 

On  this  District  he  was  continued  for  four  years;  and  after 
an  interim  of  i  year,  during  which  he  w;iA  super- 
numerary, h  turned  I  :'!>'  DigWcfj where 
he  v. .  Lnued  for  four  years  more  in  regular  succession. 
The  work,  1.  .  in  this  time  had  been  greatly  enlarged, 
new  Districts  formed,  and  the  plan  of  the  work  much  modi- 
fied. 

During  these  eight  years'  labor,  Mr.  Douglass  was  actii 

.ork  of  the  ministry,  and  witm — d  a  great 
Ingathering  into  the  fold  of  Christ.  Few  men  were  ever 
more  popular  ami  useful,  or  exercised  a  gteater  influence  on 
the  multitudes,  than  this  excellent  servant  of  the  Church. 

By  twenty  years'  hard  labor  in  those  Jays,  when  the  rides 

were   long,   camp-meetings  numerous,   and    much   of   the 

tching  of  necessity  performed  in  the  open  air,  Mr.  Doug- 


THOMAS    L.    DOUGLASS.  213 

lass's  health  became  somewhat  impaired.  Yet  he  subsequently 
labored  in  various  places:  sometimes  as  a  supernumerary, 
and  again  as  efficient ;  now  in  the  Station,  and  then  on  the 
District  or  Circuit— ever  exemplifying  in  his  conversation 
that  he  was  a  devoted  Christian  and  a  faithful  minister  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

He  was  for  many  years  Secretary  of  the  Tennessee  Confer- 
ence, and  Treasurer  of  the  Conference  Missionary  Society. 
He  was  several  times  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference, 
and  in  1832,  and  again  in  1836,  was  the  Secretary  of  that 
body. 

Soon  after  his  removal  to  the  West,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Frances  McGee,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John 
McGee,  a  distinguished  Methodist  preacher,  and  one  of  the 
honored  instruments  of  the  wonderful  revival  that  excited 
the  Western  country  about  the  year  1800.  Mr.  Douglass 
located  his  family  in  Williamson  county,  Tennessee,  where 
on  a  farm  he  employed  himself  in  agricultural  pursuits  when 
not  able  to  do  effective  work  in  the  ministry.  Several  years 
of  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  suffered  much  bodily  afflic- 
tion, but  whenever  able  to  work,  he  was  employed  in  doing 
good.  As  a  farmer,  he  might,  in  many  respects,  have  been 
considered  a  model.  Order,  neatness,  and  comfort  were  dis- 
played in  every  thing  that  pertained  to  his  house  and  farm. 

To  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  the  spirit,  zeal,  and  success 
of  Mr.  Douglass  as  a  minister,  we  insert  a  report  of  the  work 
in  his  District  which  he  furnished  to  the  editors  of  the 
Methodist  Magazine. 

Nashville  District,  Oct.  15th,  1820. 

Dear  Brethren  : — I  would  communicate  the  intelligence 
contained  in  the  following  letter  to  one  of  our  Bishops,  if  I 
knew  where  a  letter  could  reach  him  in  safety ;  but  as  afflic- 


214  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

tions  have  prevented  their  contemplated  route  through  this 
country,  I  take  the  privilege  of  making  the  communication 
to  you,  that  you  may,  if  you  think  proper,  give  it  a  place  in 
our  Magazine,  and  by  that  means  let  the  lovers  of  Jesus 
know  what  God  is  doing  for  us  in  Tennessee. 

In  the  opening  of  last  spring,  we  witnessed  something 
more  than  an  ordinary  attention  to  the  ministry  of  the  word, 
especially  in  those  parts  of  Nashville  and  Lebanon  Circuits 
which  lie  adjoining.  There  were  frequent  awakenings  and 
conversions  in  other  parts  of  the  District,  but  this  seemed  to 
be  the  point  where  the  prosped  of  the  work  was  the  most 
promising.  On  Saturday,  the  24th  of  June,  a  Quarterly 
M<  ting  commenced  at  Boss's  Meeting-house,  Nashville  Cir- 
cuit. Wilson  county.  The  preachers  from  Lebanon  Circuit 
attended  with  us,  together  with  many  of  the  members  from 
both  Circuits.  They  broughl  the  fire  with  them.  The  meet- 
ing continued  until  Tuesday,  and  the  Lord  crowned  it  with 
iiteen  converts.  Thus  far  the  work  progressed,  rather 
silently  indeed,  but  very  sweetly;  and  during  one  quarter  in 
1.  banon  Circuit,  upwards  of  two  hundred  were  added  to  the 
Church,  and  about  one  hundred  souls  converted  at  the  regu- 
lar Circuit  appointments.  The  expectations  of  the  people 
were  up.  Zion  travailed.  The  professors  were  -ending  their 
prayers  to  Heaven,  and  the  general  attention  of  the  people 
seemed  to  be  turned  toward  our  approaching  camp-meeting, 
which  commenced  on  Friday,  July  14th,  at  Centre  Meeting- 
house, in  Wilson  county.  Thursday  was  a  day  of  incessant 
rain,  and  the  prospect  seemed  very  unpromising;  hut  on 
Friday  morning  the  material  sun  arose  without  a  cloud  to 
obstruct  his  cheering  rays.  All  nature  Beemed  to  smile,  and 
every  thing  was  calculated  to  inspire  the  human  mind,  and 
call  forth  its  energies  in  praise  to  God.     The  people  began  to 


THOMAS    L.    DOUGLASS.  215 

collect  very  early,  and  came  in  crowds  from  every  direction. 
The  camp-ground  had  been  considerably  enlarged,  but  still 
we  had  to  double  the  lines  of  the  tents.  Thirty-three  preach- 
ers, and  I  think  not  less  than  five  thousand  people,  attended 
this  meeting. 

Divine  service  commenced  on  Friday  at  two  o'clock.  After 
a  sermon  was  delivered,  the  order  of  the  meeting  was  pub- 
lished, and  an  invitation  given  to  the  mourners  to  come  into 
the  altar.  About  thirty  came  forward,  and  before  sunset, 
four  of  them  professed  conversion.  At  candle-light,  we  had 
another  sermon :  the  mourners  were  again  invited  into  the 
altar.  About  fifty  were  supposed  to  be  on  their  knees  when 
we  engaged  in  prayer  for  them,  and  before  next  morning, 
nine  of  them  found  the  blessing.  On  Saturday  morning  at 
sunrise  a  sermon  was  delivered,  and  the  altar  was  nearly 
filled  with  mourners.  We  had  preaching  at  eight,  eleven, 
and  three  o'clock,  but  the  work  was  too  great  to  admit  of 
preaching  at  candle-light.  "We  had  the  trumpet  blown  ac- 
cording to  the  order  of  the  meeting,  for  the  purpose  of  hav- 
ing a  sermon  delivered;  but  just  at  that  moment  two  or 
three  struggled  into  liberty  and  rose  praising  God,  while 
several  others  sunk  under  the  power  of  conviction.  We  saw 
it  was  impossible  for  the  people  to  hear  preaching,  so  we  de- 
clined it,  and  consented  that  God  should  work  his  own  way, 
and  thirty-one  souls  professed  to  find  peace  with  God  during 
the  day  and  night.  On  Sabbath  we  had  preaching  at  sun- 
rise, at  eight,  ten,  and  eleven  o'clock.  The  work  was  great. 
Jehovah  was  in  the  camp.  We  did  not  attempt  to  preach  in 
the  afternoon,  or  at  night.  The  convictions  and  conversions 
were  almost  perpetual ;  and  on  Monday  morning  it  was  esti- 
mated there  were  eighty-six  souls  who  professed  to  get  con- 
verted through  the  preceding  day  and  night.     At  seven 


216  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  the  ordinance  of  baptism  was 
administered  to  seven  adults  and  twenty-five  children.  A 
Divine  power  rested  upon  us,  and  the  Lord  -was  present  to 
sanction  the  ordinance  in  which  we  are  ealled  by  his  name. 
T  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  then  administered 
to  several  hundred  communieants.  It  was  a  time  of  sweet 
communion  with  each  other  and  with  our  Lord.  "We  closed 
the  administration  of  the  ordinance  with  a  sermon  about 
twelve  o'clock,  after  which  there  was  no  more  preaching 
through  the  afternoon  or  night.  On  Tuesday  morning,  at 
eight  o'clock,  a  sermon  was  delivered,  and  about  twelve 
o'clock  the  meeting  ended.  Through  Monday,  Monday  night, 
and  Tuesday,  until  the  close  of  the  meeting,  fifty-eight  pro- 
fessed to  find  the  Lord.  About  forty  mourners  were  on  their 
lieu  the  congregation  was  dismissed,  fourteen  of 
whom  obtained  the  blessing,  some  on  the  ground,  and  others 
on  their  way  home;  making  in  all  two  hundred  and  two 
who  professed  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus.  On  Tuesday  morn- 
ing, we  opened  a  door  for  the  admission  of  members,  and 
one  hundred  and  eleven  joined  the  Chureh,  sixty  of  whom 
y.ning  men. 

I  do  not  remember  that  I  ever  saw  more  agreeable  weather 
for  a  meeting  in  my  life;  and  such  was  the  continual  and 
glorious  display  of  Divine  power,  that  the  altar  was  never 
empty  of  mourners  from  the  time  they  were  firsl  invited  into 
it  until  the  meeting  ended,  except  when  they  were  carried 
out,  that  we  might  administer  the  ordinances  of  baptism  and 
the  Lord's  Supper;  neither  did  the  people  all  leave  the  stage 
day  or  night  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  meeting. 
The  cries  and  groans  for  mercy  among  the  distressed  were 
perpetual;  the  shouts  of  the  young  converts  and  old  profes- 
sors were  almost  without  intermission ;  and  such  a  sense  of 


THOMAS    L.     DOUGLASS.  217 

the  Divine  presence  prevailed,  that  it  seemed  to  impose  a 
solemn  awe  upon  the  people  as  they  entered  the  encamp- 
ment, so  that  we  had  no  interruption,  nor  a  single  instance 
of  misbehavior  worth  noticing,  during  the  meeting.  An 
aged  sinner  was  heard  to  say,  "  He  had  never  seen  the  like 
before :  God  had  sanctified  the  ground,  and  none  could  walk 
upon  it  without  .feeling  awful."  ~No  opposition,  nor  a  single 
remark  was  heard  against  the  reality  of  the  work.  Some 
who  had  once  been  opposers  of  religion  acknowledged  they 
believed  this  work  to  be  genuine.  When  the  congregation 
was  addressed  on  Tuesday,  a  request  was  made  that  all — not 
only  those  who  had  obtained  religion,-  but  those  also  who  in- 
tended to  seek  it  in  good  earnest,  should  get  on  their  knees 
and  join  in  prayer;  and  it  was  remarked  that  there  was  not 
an  individual  present  who  did  not  instantly  drop  on  his 
knees.  This  was  followed  by  a  general  cry  for  mercy  through- 
out the  congregation.  "We  could  no  longer  get  the  mourners 
into  the  altar :  it  was  altar  all  over  the  camp-ground.  When 
the  meeting  was  drawing  to  a  close,  a  young  man  who  had 
obtained  religion  stood  up  on  one  of  the  seats,  and,  looking 
over  the  congregation,  exclaimed,  "  0  Lord,  must  I  go  home 
and  leave  these  people,  and  leave  this  place  !"  This  was  re- 
peated three  times,  with  an  emphasis  that  seemed  to  pene- 
trate every  heart,  as  though  it  was  the  language  of  each  in- 
dividual present. 

I  have  been  a  little  more  particular  in  giving  an  exact  ac- 
count of  this  meeting,  because  it  is  considered  as  being  the 
commencement  of  the  greatest  work  that  ever  was  seen  in 
the  Western  country.  The  holy  afflatus  was  felt  like  an  elec- 
trical shock  in  the  surrounding  counties,  and  its  influence 
experienced  more  than  one  hundred  miles  in  less  than  a 
week.     The  Kev.  Edward  Morris,  John  McGee,  John  Page, 


218  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

ami  Charles  Ledbetter,  who  have  been  instruments  in  plant- 
ing the  gospel  in  different  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  arc 
known  by  many  of  the  old  Methodists,  were  at  this  meeting, 
and  pronounced  it  to  be  the  greatest  time  they  had  ever  seen. 

Our  camp-meeting  for  Caney  Fork  Circuit  commenced  on 
Friday,  duly  21st,  at  Goodlmpe,  in  Wan-en  county.  This, 
upon  the  whole,  was  a  great  and  good  time.  The  country  La 
1  mt  thinly  inhabited,  and  our  congregation  was  comparatively 
small,  though  larger  than  usual  at  (hat  place.  We  bad  sixty- 
eight  converts,  and  thirty-one  joined  society.  Another  camp- 
held  at  the  same  time,  mar  Shelbyville,  by  the 
Presbyterians  and  Methodists  jointly.  This  was  the  time  of 
the  anniversary  of  their  "  Bible  Society."  The  Lord  favored 
them  with  his  presence,  and  about  Beventy  professed  faith  in 
Christ,  amongst  whom  were  some  of  the  students  belonging 
to  the  academy. 

We  have  bad  a  gracious  work  in  Duck  River  Circuit.  The 
Quarterly  Meeting,  dune  10th,  at  the  Big-spring  Meeting- 
house, in  Maury  county,  was  turned  into  a  little  eamp-n 

1  a  new  place,  and  but  few  people  attended:  how- 

ever, the  Lord  was  with  US,  and  gave  us  twenty-six  converts. 
Our  regular  camp-meeting  for  this  Circuit  commenced  on 
Friday,  duly  28th,  at  Zion,  in  Maury  county,  and  ended  on 
Tuesday  following.  Here  we  bad  to  contend  with  all  the 
prejudices  which  Calvinism  and  Anti-pedobaptism  are  cal- 
culated to  generate  against  the  work  of  God ;  but  our  exer- 
tions were  in  proportion,  ami  the  Lord  gave  us  eighty-two 
converts,  and  sixty -four  joined  the  Church.  I  baptized 
twenty-seven  children  and  BixteeD  adults,  and  administered 
the  Lord's  Supper  to  upwards  of  four  hundred  communicant-. 

Our  camp-meeting  for  Bedford  Circuit  began  on  Thursday, 
August  3d,  at  Salem,  in  Bedford  county,  and  ended  the  Tues- 


THOMAS    L.    DOUGLASS.  219 

day  following.  This  was  among  the  greatest  meetings  I  ever 
saw.  The  work  commenced  with  the  commencement  of  the 
meeting,  and  continued  without  intermission  day  and  night. 
On  Saturday  afternoon,  we  had  to  fix  a  second  stand  in 
another  part  of  the  camp -ground,  it  being  impossible  to 
preach  at  the  stage  already  built  when  the  mourners  were 
collected  in  the  altar.  On  Sabbath  morning,  at  eight  o'clock, 
we  had  a  sermon  delivered  at  the  lower  stage,  after  which  it 
was  absolutely  impossible  to  preach  within  the  limits  of  the 
encampment  any  more  that  day :  such  were  the  cries  of  the 
distressed,  and  shouts  of  the  young  converts,  nothing  else 
could  be  heard.  It  was,  therefore,  reported  to  the  people  we 
would  preach  in  a  grove  about  three  hundred  yards  distant. 
One  of  the  pulpits  being  movable  was  taken  up  and  carried 
to  the  place,  and  the  people  not  engaged  in  the  encampment 
attended.  Here  we  preached  at  eleven  and  three  o'clock, 
and  here  the  arrows  of  conviction  fastened  in  the  hearts  of 
many  sinners ;  and  when  wounded,  they  would  immediately 
fly  to  the  camp-ground  as  to  a  grand  hospital,  for  there  God 
was  healing  the  sin-sick  souls,  and  bringing  the  dead  to  life. 
On  Monday  morning,  I  baptized  thirty-one  children  and 
twenty  adults,  and  administered  the  Lord's  Supper  to  four 
hundred  and  eighty  communicants.  Two  hundred  and  fifty- 
one  professed  to  be  converted  at  this  meeting,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-eight  joined  society.  One  of  the  sons  of  Belial 
came  to  this  meeting,  and  fixed  his  tent  at  a  convenient  dis- 
tance from  the  encampment,  where  he  intended  to  enjoy 
himself  with  his  wicked  companions;  but  as  he  did  not 
come  until  Friday,  some  of  them  came  before  him  and  got 
religion,  and  as  others  came,  they  were  struck  under  convic- 
tion, and  left  him,  until,  he  said,  he  had  lost  even  his  class- 
leader.     On  Saturday  evening,  about  half  an  hour  after  the 


220  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

candles  were  lighted  up,  he  came  walking  down  through  the 
camp -ground,  and  stopped  near  where  I  happened  to  be 
standing.  At  that  moment  the  work  was  going  on  most 
gloriously  at  both  stages,  and  in  at  Least  twenty  tents;  and 
after  tuning  and  looking  all  round  for  some  moments, 
"Well,"  said  he,  "if  this  is  not  enough  to  fret  hell,  I'll  be 
d d!"  He  was  by  himself:  we  pitied  him,  but  did  no- 
thing with  him,  as  we  saw  he  conld  do  us  no  harm. 

An  extra  camp-meeting  was  held  in  Lebanon  Circuit,  at 
Ebenezer,  in  "Wilson  county,  commencing  August  18th,  and 
ended  the  Tuesday  following.  This  is  a  place  where  camp- 
meetings  have  been  held  for  many  years;  but  this  meeting 
sded  all  the  rest:  the  people  came  praying  and  believ- 
ing, and  God  was  with  them.  One  hundred  and  eighty-two 
professed  to  be  converted,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-tive 
joined  society.  The  I\ev.  Valentine  Cook  attended  this 
meeting,  and  preached  on  the  subject  of  baptism  with  un- 
common power  and  great  usefulness.  The  sermon  was  much 
•  1  to  the  people. 

The  camp-meeting  for  Richland  Circuit  commenced  August 
25th,  at  Pisgah,  in  Giles  county,  and  ended  the  Tin-day  fol- 
lowing. This  is  a  place  which  God  highly  honored  with 
6ignal  displays  of  his  power  OH  former  occasions.  The  people 
came  out  expecting  to  see  gracious  times,  and  they  were  not 
disappointed.  The  Lord  gave  us  seventy-two  converts,  and 
sixty-five  joined  society. 

The  camp-meeting  for  Nashville  Circuit  commenced  Sep- 
tember 8th,  at  Mount  Xebo,  in  Williamson  county,  and  ended 
the  Tuesday  following.  Here  we  had  to  contend  with  strong 
prejudices  against  Methodism;  nevertheless,  God  was  with 
us.  The  work  of  conviction  was  general  and  deep  in  the 
hearts   of  the  people,  and  we  had   some  of  the  most  dis- 


THOMAS    L.    DOUGLASS.  221 

tinguished  and  bright  conversions  I  ever  saw.  According  to 
the  returns  made,  ninety-two  professed  to  be  converted,  and 
ninety-six  joined  society. 

Our  camp-meeting  for  Stone's  River  Circuit  commenced  on 
Thursday,  September  21st,  at  Windrow's  Meeting-house,  in 
Rutherford  county,  and  ended  the  Tuesday  following.  Here, 
I  may  say,  the  faith  of  the  Christians  rose  to  its  proper  point, 
and  became  the  full  persuasion  of  the  truth  of  God's  promise 
and  the  confident  expectation  that  he  would  be  with  us. 
Many  of  the  young  converts  from  the  other  camp-meeting 
attended,  and  numbers  under  conviction  came  for  the  express 
purpose  of  getting  their  souls  converted.  The  camp-ground 
was  enlarged  to  twice  its  former  size,  and  yet  fully  one-third 
of  the  tents  were  outside  of  the  lines.  Two  stages  were 
erected,  and  seats  made  for  the  accommodation  of  two  con- 
gregations within  the  lines  of  the  encampment,  and  another 
some  distance  on  the  outside.  Although  Thursday  and  Fri- 
day were  days  of  almost  incessant  rain,  the  people  appeared 
to  be  entirely  regardless  of  it :  they  came  in  their  carriages, 
fixed  their  tents,  and  collected  round  the  stage  to  hear  preach- 
ing, with  as  much  attention  as  if  there  was  no  rain  falling. 
The  time  was  glorious  beyond  description  !  It  is  impossible 
for  me  to  give  an  account  of  particulars.  Three  hundred  and 
fifty  professed  conversion,  and  two  hundred  and  two  joined 
society.  On  Monday  morning,  I  baptized  twenty-five  children 
and  fifty-six  adults,  and  administered  the  Lord's  Supper  to 
nearly  six  hundred  communicants.  Murfreesboro',  the  county 
town,  and  at  present  the  seat  of  Government  in  this  State, 
shared  largely  in  the  benefits  of  this  meeting.  "We  have 
raised  a  society  there  of  more  than  forty  members,  and  the 
prospect  of  an  increase  is  very  promising. 

On  comparing  the  numbers  returned  at  Conference  with 


222  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

the  former  numbers,  I  find  we  have  ■  net  increase  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  twenty  members  in  the  District;  and  in  order 
to  have  a  correct  idea  of  the  work,  it  must  be  recollected  that 
besides  the  deaths  and  expulsions,  at  least  five  hundred  mem- 
bers have  emigrated  from  this  district  to  Missouri,  Alabama, 
and  JackBOn'fl  purchase  over  Tennessee  river,  in  the  course 
of  the  past  year. 

The  character  of  this  revival  is  the  least  mixed  with  what 
is  called  irregularities  or  extravagances  of  any  that  I  ever 

saw.  We  have  had  nothing  of  what  is  called  the  jorlcs  or 
dance  among  us.  The  work  of  convictiou  In  the  hearts  of 
sinners  has  been  regular,  powerful,  and  deep,  their  conver- 
sion or  deliverance  from  sin  nftil  guilt  clear  and  bright,  and 
their  rejoicings  scriptural  and  rational.  I  think  fully  half  of 
those  who  have  been  the  subjects  of  the  work  are  young  men 
and  heads  Of  families — many  of  them  among  the  most  re- 
spectable in  the  country,  men  of  education,  men  of  talents. 
We  anticipate  help  and  usefulness  from  Borne  of  them  in  the 
Lord's  vineyard.  Upon  the  whole,  it  is  the  greatest  work, 
the  most  blessed  revival,  T  ever  saw.  The  whole  country  in 
some  places  seems  like  bowing  to  our  Emmanuel;  religion 
•s  with  very  little  that  can  be  called  opposition;  and 
many  who  neither  profess  nor  appear  to  have  any  desire  to 
get  religion  themselves  manifest  an  uncommon  degree  of 
solicitude  that  others  should  obtain  it,  and  express  a  high 
satisfaction  at  seeing  the  work  prosper.  May  the  Lord  con- 
tinue to  pour  out  his  Spirit,  and  may  the  hallowed  fire 
spread  until  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  shall  rejoice  in 
his  salvation  !     To  God  be  all  the  glory. 

Tray  for  us,  dear  brethren,  that  this  year  may  be  as  the 
past,  and  much  more  abundantly.  We  look  for  it,  and  ex- 
pect it.     The  District  is  well  supplied  with  preachers,  men 


THOMAS    L.     DOUGLASS.  223 

of  talents,  men  of  zeal,  and  in  the  spirit  of  the  work.     May 
the  Lord  bless  their  labors  ! 

I  remain,  as  ever, 
Your  very  sincere  brother  in  Christ, 

T.  L.  Douglass. 

This  was  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  revivals  of  religion 
ever  witnessed  in  the  West.  Multiplied  thousands  were  con- 
verted and  added  to  the  Church ;  and  many  who  were  its 
subjects  became  flaming  heralds  of  the  cross.  At  one  of  the 
meetings  here  reported  by  Mr.  Douglass,  Colonel  James 
McFerrin,  the  father  of  the  writer  of  this  sketch,  was  awak- 
ened, and  soon  afterwards  converted.  He  carried  the  revival 
influence  into  his  own  family  and  neighborhood :  his  children 
were  brought  to  God ;  and  subsequently  three  of  his  sons, 
and  several  of  his  neighbors,  became  Methodist  preachers — 
some  of  whom  have  gone  to  their  reward ;  others  still  re- 
main, preaching  Christ  and  him  crucified.  In  this  revival, 
the  Rev.  P.  A.  Owen,  one  of  the  Book  Agents  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  South,  was  converted  and  licensed  by 
Mr.  Douglass.  Mr.  Douglass  also  introduced  Robert,  now 
Bishop,  Paine  into  the  ministry,  likewise  Sterling  Brown, 
that  great  star  of  the  West,  who  brought  hundreds  and  thou- 
sands to  God  in  the  space  of  a  few  years,  and  went  home  in 
a  chariot  of  fire,  and  many  others  who  were  giants  in  the 
cause  of  Christ.  In  all  this  great  work,  Mr.  Douglass  was 
one  of  the  principal  agents,  exercising  perhaps  more  influ- 
ence than  any  other  man  in  advancing  the  cause  of  Christ. 

Mr.  Douglass  was  of  low  stature,  and  in  his  latter  years 
inclined  to  corpulency.  His  form  was  erect,  and  his  carriage 
grave  and  dignified.  His  features  were  symmetrical,  and  his 
countenance  benevolent.     Indeed,  he  was  very  prepossessing 


224  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

in  his  personal  appearance,  and  could  not  fail  to  attract  tho 
attention  and  command  the  respect  of  his  audience  as  soon 
as  he  ascended  the  pulpit.  His  voice  was  clear,  full,  and 
melodious,  and  modulated  to  the  highest  perfection.  His 
articulation  was  distinct,  and  his  tone  and  emphasis  natural, 
rising  above  all  art.  He  was,  in  a  word,  a  fine  specimen  as 
llpit  orator.  His  mind  was  clear,  his  judgment  sound, 
and  his  views  on  all  questions  respected  by  his  brethren.  His 
theological  attainments  were  for  above  mediocrity.  lie  was 
familiar  with  the  standard  writers  of  the  Church,  and  was 
thoroughly  Wesleyan  in  his  views.  As  an  administrator  of 
discipline,  he  was  mild  and  gentle,  but  strict,  rigidly  ad- 
hering to  law.  Eds  knowledge  bf  Methodisl  polity  and  usage 
was  very  accurate,  and  his  statement-  and  opinions  had  much 
weight,  not  only  in  his  own  Conference,  bnt  in  the  General 
C  .  of  which  he  was  considered,  in  his  late  years 

dally,  a  prominent  member. 

As  a  man,  lie  was  remarkable  for  his  probity  and  punctu- 
ality, and  his  word  was  a  sufficient  guaranty  to  any  one 
who  knew  him.  lie  required  no  endorsement,  hut,  like  the 
unadulterated  coin,  he  always  passed  currently  upon  his  own 
intrinsic  value.  Xo  one  questioned  the  honor  or  fidelity  of 
this  excellent  man  of  God. 

As  a  Christian,  he  was  consistent,  uniform,  devout.  Cheer- 
ful in  spirit,  social  in  disposition,  simple  in  manners,  and 
plea-ant  in  intercourse,  he  was  a  delightful  companion  ;  and 
hence  his  society  was  always  sought  by  his  brethren,  espe- 
cially by  those  of  his  own  age  in  the  ministry. 

But  this  good  man  has  passed  away.  He  has  fallen  asleep, 
and  now  reposes  in  the  dust  with  his  fathers  and  brethren. 
Hi-  last  sickness  was  protracted,  but  borne  with  Christian 
patience  and  calm  resignation  to  the  will  of  God.    His  death- 


THOMAS    L.    DOUGLASS.  225 

bed  scene  was  one  of  triumph — of  complete  victory.  He 
died  on  Sunday  morning,  the  9th  of  April,  1843,  at  his  own 
residence.  He  had  been  confined  to  his  house  and  chamber 
most  of  the  winter  previous,  and  as  the  spring  opened,  he 
gradually  sank  under  the  power  of  disease.  On  the  Friday 
evening  previous  to  his  death,  the  Rev.  A.  L.  P.  Green  and 
the  Rev.  M.  H.  Quinn  called  to  see  him,  and  spent  the  night 
with  him.  They  found  him  near  the  gates  of  death,  yet  in 
full  possession  of  all  his  mental  faculties.  They  entered  into 
a  full  and  free  conversation  with  him.  He  referred  to  the 
past,  gave  a  brief  history  of  his  conversion  and  call  to  the 
ministry,  and  of  his  connection  with  the  Virginia  Confer- 
ence. He  expressed  full  confidence  in  the  doctrines  of 
Christianity  as  taught  by  the  Methodists.  Said  he,  "  I  have 
been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  between 
forty-five  and  fifty  years,  and  a  preacher  about  forty-two 
years,  and  I  believe  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  to  be  the 
true  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  and  I  have  not  a  shadow  of 
doubt  in  regard  to  their  correctness."  Here  he  enlarged  on 
the  excellency  of  the  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith ;  and 
while  dwelling  upon  this  fundamental  principle  of  our  holy 
Christianity,  his  soul  was  overwhelmed  by  a  sense  of  Divine 
goodness,  and  in  rapturous  joy  he  praised  God  for  the  plan 
of  salvation.  He  also  bore  testimony  to'  the  excellency  of 
Methodist  polity,  saying,  "I  have  ever  looked  upon  our 
government  as  the  best  Church -government  in  the  world, 
and  that  God  was  with  its  framers." 

Mr.  Green  suggested  to  him  that  his  labor  and  exposure 
as  an  itinerant  preacher  had  possibly  made  him  prematurely 
old,  and  had  hastened  his  dissolution.  He  replied,  "That 
is  quite  possible ;  yet  if  I  had  my  life  to  pass  over  again,  I 

would  take  the  same  track.     Any  suffering  I  have  endured, 
15 


226  BIOGBAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

any  sacrifice  I  havo  made  for  Christ's  sake,  is  now  my  glory. 
I  glory  in  the  cross  of  Christ !" 

During  family -prayer  he  was  greatly  .  moved,  and  re- 
sponded with  much  fervency;  and  when  a  hymn  was  sung 
with  the  chorus, 

"  This  world  is  not  my  home, 

This  world 's  a  howling  wilderness, 
But  heaven  is  my  home," 

he  paraphrased  the  words,  and  while  tears  of  joy  flowed  from 
his  eyes,  he  .-aid,  "Home,  sweei  lomJ  After  a  life  of  toil 
and  lahor,  to  gel  BOMI,  where  I  shall  rest !  where  I  shall  see 
my  Messed  Saviour!" 

He  spoke  affectionately  of  his  fathers  and  brethren  in  the 

mini-try,  and  said  that  when  he  reached  heaven  lie  would  lie 

no  stranger,  hut  would  see  and  recognize  AsLury  and  MeKrii- 

v.  ith  whom  he  toiled  to  cultivate  Emmanuel's 

land,  and  would  meet  many  of  his  spiritual  ehildivn. 

Thus,  in  strains  of  triumph,  he  rejoiced  in  the  prospect  of 
his  change,  and  continued  strong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to 
God,  till  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  without  the  slightest  ap- 
parent struggle  or  agony. 

On  Monday,  tin-  l''»th  of  April,  1843,  he  was  buried,  after  a 
funeral  discourse  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Green,  founded  on  the  ap- 
propriate passage,  ""Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant: thou  hast  been  faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  make 
thee  ruler  over  many  things :  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
Lord."  His  brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  the  members  of 
the  Church  from  the  surrounding  country,  came  by  scores 
and  hundreds  to  weep  at  the  grave  of  him  who  had  so  often 
gladdened  tin  ir  hearts  by  the  proclamation  of  salvation 
through  Jesus  Christ. 

His  dust  has  been  removed  to  the  cemetery  at  Franklin, 


THOMAS    L.    DOUGLASS.  227 

Term.,  where,  with  the  remains  of  his  wife,  who  has  since 
followed  him  to  the  grave,  he  reposes,  in  hope  of  a  glorious 
resurrection. 

a  Though  dead,  he  yet  speaketh."  He  lives  in  the  memory 
of  thousands,  and  lives  to  die  no  more.  "And  they  that  be 
wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament;  and 
they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars  for  ever 
and  ever." 

The  epitaph  given  on  the  following  page,  written  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Green,  is  inscribed  on  a  neat  stone  which  marks 
the  place  of  his  slumbers. 


228  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Sac  rr  to 

TO 
TUB    MEMORY    OF    TUE 

REV.    THOMAS    LOGAN    DOUGLASS, 
Born  July  8,  1781, 

AM) 

Departed   this   life   1848. 

He  was  from  his  youth  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  for 
more  than  forty  years  a  minister  of  the  gospel  of  Christ 

He  heired  by  nature  a  sound  mind,  and  by  grace  the  friendship  of  Heaven 
and  fellowship  with  God. 


Death  came  ;  but  death  could  not  surprise 

Him,  who  had  watched  each  day  with  prayer, 
Waiting  with  longing  eyes 

To  Bhow  his  Lord  a  faithful  servant's  care. 
When  called  the  bridegroom  and  his  friends  to  meet, 

No  oil  to  buy,  no  labor  to  begin, 
With  burning  lamp,  girt  loins,  and  peace-shod  feet, 

Thus,  hand  in  hand,  through  death  he  entered  in, 
And  fuiind  a  bridal-garment  and  a  seat. 

He  sowed  in  tears,  in  joy  he  reaps, 
And  when  the  shafts  of  death  fell  thick  and  fast, 
Like  Stephen,  blessing  to  the  last, 

In  Christ  he  sleeps. 


(^n-h^ 


JOHN    LANE.  229 


JOHN   LANE. 


BY    B.     M.    DRAKE,    D.D. 


A  company  of  friends,  all  lovers  of  the  beauties  of  nature, 
resolve  to  gratify  their  prevailing"  taste  in  an  evening  stroll. 
The  scenery  which  invites  them  is  varied.  In  the  back- 
ground, the  lofty  mountain  lifts  its  beetling  cliff  and  crag  to 
a  dizzy  height.  Torrent  and  cataract,  sheltered  dell  and 
yawning  chasm,  make  the  scene  most  romantic.  Just  below, 
nature  assumes  another  of  her  "changeful  forms:"  swelling 
hill  and  sloping  valley,  tangled  forest  and  cultivated  field, 
tiny  rill,  gushing  fountain,  and  nestling  cottage,  give  to  the 
chastened  scenery  more  of  the  picturesque  than  the  romantic. 
Still  onward,  the  broad  "pastures  clothed  with  flocks,"  and 
the  fertile  "valleys  covered  with  corn,"  send  up  to  Heaven  a 
shout  of  joy  and  hymn  of  gratitude, 

"Where  peaceful  rivers,  soft  and  slow, 
Amid  the  verdant  landscape  flow." 

Now  the  crystal  waters  kiss  the  adventurous  flowers,  or  wave 
the  pendant  grass,  gentle  as  the  morning  breeze. 

No  sooner  do  our  lovers  of  nature  glance  at  the  varied 
scene  than  by  an  instinct  of  taste  they  separate  into  groups. 
Here  the  more  adventurous  clamber  up  the  giddy  heights, 


280  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

swing  over  the  projecting  crag,  swoon  at  the  yawning  gulf 
below,  are  deafened  by  the  roar  of  the  thundering  cataract, 
but  only  breathe  the  quicker,  to  send  the  life-current  with 
greater  exhilaration  to  every  extremity. 

Another  group  wander  over  hill  and  dale,  loiter  in  sylvan 
bower,  pluck  the  modest  flower  from  its  sequestered  home, 
or  quail'  the  crystal  flood  from  its  rocky  chalice. 

Still  another  group,  with  taste  more  chastened,  but  cer- 
tainly not  less  refined,  wend  theil  way  along  the  banks  of 
the  peaceful  stream,  admire  the  enamelled  beauties  of  the 
meadow,  adore  the  Hand  which  "clothes  the  smiling  fields 
with  corn,"  or  gaze  upon  the  placid  waters  until  the  reflected 
heaven-  seem  to  unite  all  that  is  beautiful  on  earth  with  all 
that  is  glorious  above. 

It  is  thus  that  the  broad  and  varied  fields  of  biographical 
literature  are  spread  out  to  meet  the  taste  of  all. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  the  Rev.  John  Lane,  of 
Vicksburg,  is  fitly  represented  by  the  last  landscape:  quiet, 
gentle,  anobtrnsiVe,  full  of  good  fruits,  he  made  every  vale 
of  earth  to  smile  through  which  he  passed. 

William  Lane,  Esq.,  the  father  of  John,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  of  English  parentage.  He  was  a  Revolutionary 
soldier,  and,  so  far  as  appears,  a  highly  respectable  gentle- 
man. He  was  not  a  professor  of  religion.  When  his  son 
John  was  only  two  years  old,  he  removed  to  Georgia,  and 
settled  in  Elbert  county.  He  was  doubtless  animated  by  the 
spirit  so  common  in  our  country,  the  desire  of  bettering  the 
condition  of  his  family  by  settling  in  a  new  country.  It  is 
doubtful  whether  he  accomplished  this  object,  as  we  find  him 
less  able  to  educate  his  younger  than  his  older  children. 

John  was  the  youngest  of  ten  children.  Mrs.  Xancy  Lane, 
his  mother,  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 


JOHN    LANE.  231 

and  early  taught  her  son  the  precepts  and  doctrines  of  our 
holy  religion.  She  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  them  affect 
the  moral  deportment  of  her  son  so  far  that  he  never  recol- 
lects to  have  sworn  a  profane  oath,  told  a  wilful  falsehood, 
played  a  game  of  cards  or  "billiards,  or  drunk  a  drop  of  ardent 
spirits,  except  medicinally.  This  was  good  fruit :  the  culture 
must  have  been  good. 

"With  all  this  he  was  not  a  Christian :  he  had  not  experi- 
enced a  change  of  heart.  When  young  Lane  was  about 
fifteen  years  old,  it  pleased  God  to  remove  this  inestimable 
mother  to  her  home  in  heaven.  The  father  broke  up  house- 
keeping, and  resided  with  one  of  his  married  children,  and 
John  with  another.  This  melancholy  disbanding  of  the 
family,  so  fraught  with  apparent  disaster,  was  made  the  occa- 
sion of  good  to  John.  The  hour  came  when  the  old  home- 
stead, with  all  its  hallowed  associations,  had  to  be  aban- 
doned. With  all  the  fervor  of  young  love,  he  went  alone  to 
take  a  final  leave  of  his  mother's  grave.  It  was  now  that  the 
faithful  instructions  of  that  mother  came  over  his  heart  with 
the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Kneeling  beside  that  grave, 
he  vowed  to  meet  her  in  heaven.  That  vow,  though  deferred, 
was  never  forgotten.  What  an  encouragement  do  we  find  in 
this  incident  to  parents  to  sow  early,  and  with  an  unsparing 
hand,  the  seeds  of  the  kingdom.  That  hand  may  soon  be 
still  in  death  that  now  sows,  but  not  the  seed  shall  die : 

"  Grace  keeps  the  precious  germ  alive, 
When  and  wherever  strewn." 

It  was  not  long  after  he  went  to  reside  with  his  brother 
before  it  was  thought  he  was  capable  of  self-government  and 
self-support;  so  he  launched  his  frail  bark  on  the  perilous 
ocean  of  this  uncertain  world.     His  first  felt  want  was  more 


232  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

education.  lie  could  read  and  write,  and  cipher  a  little. 
With  this  sk-ndcr  stuck,  he  commenced  school-teaching,  with 
the  sole  object  of  putting  himself  to  school.  We  know  not 
how  long  lie  continued  to  teach,  but  at  the  end  of  his  twenty- 
second  year,  he  had  given  himself  the  advantage  of  a  year 
and  a  half  at  Franklin  College,  then  one  of  the  best  institu- 
tions in  the  country. 

While  attending  this  institution,  he  hoarded  with  the 
venerable  Hope  Hull,  of  Mess..!  memory.  This  highly- 
favored  servant  of  God  was  made  the  instrument  of  reviving 

the  convictions  received  at  his  mother's  grave.  Of  his  travail 
of  spirit,  we  have  do  authentic  account,  hut  this  much  is 
known,  it  resulted  in  a  clear,  powerful,  satisfactory  conver- 
sion, which  was  soon  followed  by  an  oneqnivocal,  unmistak- 
able call  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  minis- 
try. He  conferred  not  with  flesh  and  blood.  He  was  anxious 
to  obtain  a  classical  education,  but  did  not  feel  himself  at 
liberty  to  abstract  so  much  of  his  time  from  his  heavenly 
mission  as  would  be  necessary  to  accomplish   that  object. 

He  felt  that  lb-  who  called  him  to  that  holy  vocation  had 
some  work  to  be  done  that  he  could  then  do:  hence  he  said, 
"Here  am  I :   send  me  !" 

His  first  essay  was  not  alone,  but  in  company  with  the 
ther  of  the  Circuit.  For  a  young  man  to  spend  some 
months  with  a  judicious  senior,  both  engaged  in  the  same 
earnest  work  of  saving  sinners,  may  be  of  lasting  importance. 
It  was  the  general  practice  in  the  early  days  of  Methodism 
and  of  Christianity,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  and  ought  never 
to  be  abandoned. 

Young  Lane  was  soon  after  recommended  to  the  South 
Carolina  Conference,  then  including  the  State  of  Georgia. 
He  was  received  on  trial  at  the  Conference  of  1814.  and  ap- 


JOHN    LANE.  233 

pointed  junior  preacher  to  Bush  River  Circuit.  The  late 
Bishop  Capers  was  his  Presiding  Elder.  In  1815,  he  travelled 
the  Louisville  Circuit  in  the  State  of  Georgia.  Of  his  suc- 
cess in  these  Circuits  we  have  no  account.  It  was  his  good 
fortune  at  this  period  of  his  life  to  be  associated  with  those 
venerable  men  who  laid  deep  and  wide  the  foundation  of 
Methodism  in  the  South :  such  as  James  Jenkins,  Samuel 
Dunwody,  Hope  Hull,  Joseph  Tarpley,  Lewis  Myers,  William 
Capers,  William  M.  Kennedy,  and  a  host  of  others  of  like 
spirit.  These  men  were  the  models  on  which  he  formed  his 
own  character.  It  would  be  difficult  in  any  age  or  country 
to  find  better  models. 

At  the  Conference  held  in  Charleston,  at  the  close  of  1815, 
Mr.  Lane  was  elected  to  Deacon's  orders,  and  set  apart  by  the 
imposition  of  the  hands  of  Bishop  McKendree.  Mississippi 
and  Louisiana  then  constituted  the  missionary  field  of  the 
Church.  To  volunteer  for  that  field  was  almost  like  self- 
immolation.  Its  distance  from  the  other  portions  of  the 
United  States,  its  mixed  population,  the  fatal  malaria  sup- 
posed to  prevail  all  over  the  country,  rendered  it  the  moral 
Thermopylae  of  the  Connection. 

Besides  these  general  difficulties,  at  the  time  of  which  we 
write,  the  Cherokee  and  Creek  nations  of  Indians  intervened 
between  South  Carolina  and  Mississippi,  the  latter  of  which 
tribes  was  in  a  state  of  great  dissatisfaction  and  incipient 
hostility.  In  these  circumstances,  Bishop  McKendree  asked 
for  volunteers  for  that  forlorn  hope.  John  Lane  and  Ashley 
Hewitt  stood  forth.  They  were  accepted  and  appointed.  I 
cannot  describe  their  journey  through  the  great  and  terrible 
wilderness  better  than  in  the  words  of  Brother  Lane.  He 
writes  as  follows : 

"At  the  South  Carolina  Conference,  held  at  Charleston, 


234  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

December,  1815,  I  was  sent  by  Bishop  McKendree  to  what 
WM  then  called  the  Natchez  Circuit.  Brother  Ashley  Hewitt 
WH  sent  to  the  Tombigbee  Circuit.  In  the  early  part  of 
January,  1816,  we  met  at  M i  1  k<li_rovilK>,  Georgia:  purchased 
a  pack-mole,  and  other  articles  necessary  for  our  journey. 

"About  this  time,  the  surveyors  had  gone  out  to  run  tho 
dividing-line  between  the  Creek  nation  and  the  Doited  States. 
A  difficulty  had  occurred  between  the  surveyors  and  the 
Indians  as  to  where  the  line  Bhould  run.  The  Indians  had 
become  very  hostile,  and  had  killed  a  number  of  travellers 
and  families  who  had  settled  over  what  they  considered  the 
line. 

■  Notwithstanding  the  dangers,  we  set  out  on  our  long  and 
perilous  journey.  We  reached  Fori  Hawkins,  on  the  border 
of  the  wilderness,  where  there  was  a  large  military  force. 
Eere  .  ■•  Learned  that  all  travelling,  excepl  In  large  com- 
panies, v.;i-  stopped,  and  that  there  was  far  more  danger  than 
we  had  anticipated.  Wi  were  advised  not  to  proceed,  and 
Brother  Hewitt  said  we  had  better  give  over  our  journey. 
But  I  said  no:  we  are  single  men,  have  DO  wives  and  chil- 
dren, ami  that  if  we  had  been  sent  in  the  providence  of  God, 
and  he  Lad  work  fol  us  to  do,  he  would  take  care  of  us  and 
Doing  us  safely  through.  When  we  arrived  at  Fort  Mitchel, 
on  the  Chattahoochee  river,  we  found  some  two  hundred 
soldiers,  who  had  b<  nned  at  the  reports  of  the  hos- 

tility of  the  sa\  d  were  afraid  to  proceed,  and  had 

sent  back  to  Fort  Hawkins  for  reinforcements.  We  still 
trusted  in  Qod,  and  pursued  our  journey.  On  our  way,  we 
saw  many  Indian  women  and  children,  and  some  old  men, 
who  looked  very  savage  at  us.  "We  met  another  company, 
who  told  us  of  several  murders,  and  of  the  great  danger  of 
travelling  alone.     Hewitt  again  said  we  had  better  go  back. 


JOHN    LANE.  235 

I  said  no :  that  I  should  go  through,  or  fall  iu  the  attempt. 
That  evening  late  we  left  the  road,  and  went  into  a  deep 
hollow,  built  up  a  fire,  cooked  our  supper,  pitched  our 
little  tent,  for  it  was  raining,  said  our  prayers,  which  we  al- 
ways did  morning  and  night  as  regularly  as  if  we  had  been 
in  a  family,  and  then  lay  down  to  rest.  About  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  we  were  roused  by  the  snorting  of  our  horses : 
we  knew  that  Indians  were  about.  I  had  been  presented 
with  a  pair  of  horse-pistols.  I  soon  heard  the  Indians  step- 
ping about;  and  being  an  Arminian,  and  not  trusting  alto- 
gether in  faith,  but  believing  in  works,  raised  one  of  my 
pistols  and  fired  in  the  direction  I  heard  them.  The  Indians 
ran  off;  and  in  the  morning  we  examined  but  found  no  traces 
of  blood,  and  trusted  the  poor  Indians  had  escaped  unhurt. 
After  passing  many  places  where  the  houses  had  been  burned 
up  and  the  families  in  them,  we  arrived  safely  at  the  white 
settlements  on  the  Tombigbee. 

"  Here,  Brother  Hewitt  having  reached  his  field  of  labor, 
we  had  to  separate.  I  still  had  to  go  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  to  my  Circuit,  through  almost  a  wilderness.  I  suffered 
a  great  deal,  it  being  very  cold,  and  I  had  to  swim  almost  all 
the  creeks." 

It  is  to  be  deeply  regretted  that  the  extract  is  so  short,  but 
it  is  all  that  can  now  be  recovered.  The  country  through 
which  he  passed  from  Tombigbee  to  Natchez  I  passed  alone 
eleven  years  after :  even  then,  there  was  one  stretch  of  forty- 
five  miles  where  but  one  house  was  seen  upon  the  road. 

I  shall  be  pardoned  for  a  short  digression  at  this  point. 
Ashley  Hewitt,  the  co-missionary  of  Brother  Lane,  was  only 
a  little  more  prudent,  and  slightly  less  heroic,  than  the  latter. 
He  lived  for  many  years  a  faithful  and  acceptable  member  of 
the  Mississippi  Conference.     Above  all  his  brethren,  he  was 


236  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

a  man  of  affliction,  all  of  which  lie  bore  with  exemplary  for- 
titude and  resignation.  But  the  hour  of  his  release  came. 
He  was  expiring  in  great  Christian  triumph  in  one  room,  and 
a  lovely  daughter  was  expiring  in  another  room  of  the  same 
building.  His  only  remaining  earthly  anxiety  was  for  the 
conversion  of  that  daughter.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Church,  but  had  never  professed  a  change  of  heart  Iii  the 
triumph  of  all -conquering  faith,  he  had  embraced  the  con- 
version of  that  child.  His  oft-repeated  inquiry,  "Is  she  yet 
converted?"  was  as  often  answered  in  the  negative;  bu1 
was  an  earnest  seeker.  At  length  her  friends  saw  her  draw 
her  last  breath  as  they  supposed,  and  felt  the  pulse  stand  still. 
These  sad  tidings  arried  to  the  father.    kk  Did  Bhe  give 

any  evidence  of  conversion  before  Bhe  expired?"  was  the 
anxious  question  of  the  father.  The  answer,  "No,"  did  not 
appal  his  heart  or  .-hake  his  confidence.  "Then  she  is  not 
dead!"  was  the  answer  of  unwavering  faith.  Soon  a  noise 
was  heard  in  the  ehamher  of  the  supposed  dead  girL  She 
alive  in  more  than  one  sense.  She  proclaimed  to  all  the 
full  assurance  of  faith,  and  soon  expired,  Bhouting  the  pn 
of  God.  Then  there  was  tight  in  that  father's  apartment. 
Such  joy,  Buch  floods  of  glory,  Beemed  s  remuneration  for 
twenty  years  of  sorrow  and  affliction.  He,  too,  took  his 
flight  to  the  glory-land  so  soon  after  the  daughter  that  there 
was  no  need  to  close  the  gate  after  the  triumphant  entrance 
of  the  one  till  the  other  was  there. 

I  will  not  dismiss  this  journey  of  Brother  Lane  without 
giving  an  incident  not  recorded  in  his  account  as  given 
above,  but  which  he  has  related  to  many  of  his  friends.  The 
expenses  of  his  journey  had  probably  exceeded  his  calcula- 
tion, and  his  slender  finances  had  come  to  a  crisis — a  thing 
not  uncommon  in  those  days  and  in  much  later  days.     His 


JOHN    LANE.  237 

last  dime  was  gone,  and  he  not  at  his  journey's  end,  and 
among  entire  strangers.  He  stopped  to  spend  the  night  with 
a  widow  lady,  not  knowing  whether  or  not  he  should  be  re- 
quired to  pay  his  bill.  He  did  not  make  the  frank  avowal 
of  his  poverty  at  first.  This  gave  him  almost  a  sleepless 
night.  How  should  he  meet  his  hostess  in  the  morning  was 
the  anxious  inquiry.  Morning  came.  The  kind  woman  had 
found  out  somehow  who  he  was,  and  what  his  errand.  She 
had  not  the  slightest  clue  to  his  pressing  necessities.  With- 
out giving  him  time  to  ask  his  bill  and  tell  his  sad  story,  she 
slipped  into  his  hand,  in  the  most  delicate  manner,  twenty 
dollars,  asking  him  to  accept  it.  "Your  Father  knoweth 
that  ye  have  need  of  these  things"  is  a  precious  truth.  It 
was  not  the  last  nor  probably  the  first  of  the  kind  that  hap- 
pened to  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  but  the  only  one  we  shall 
relate.  "Were  all  similar  cases  related  that  have  happened  to 
members  of  the  Mississippi  Conference,  they  would  fill  an 
octavo  volume.  That  minister  who  cannot  trust  the  Saviour 
is  surely  very  unbelieving.  I  know  not  who  the  benevolent 
lady  was  who  on  that  occasion  was  God's  almoner,  but  doubt- 
less her  record  is  on  high  and  her  reward  sure. 

The  Natchez  Circuit,  to  which  Mr.  Lane  was  appointed, 
included  the  country  from  the  Walnut  Hills  to  the  Hamo- 
chitto  river.  It  embraced  Washington,  the  original  hive  of 
Methodism  in  Mississippi,  and  where  for  many  years  the 
largest  and  most  influential  Church  assembled.  To  the  ga- 
thering of  this  early  metropolitan  Church  he  contributed  his 
full  share.  The  footprints  he  there  made  are  not  yet  oblite- 
rated: they  remain  in  the  memories  of  those  who  were 
brought  to  God  by  his  ministry,  and  in  the  memories  of 
those  who  were  then  children,  now  old  persons,  to  whom  he 
taught  the   catechism  and  induced  to  commit   hymns   to 


238  BIOGRAPniCAL    SKETCHES. 

memory.  Some  of  these  hymns  are  now  sung  by  his  early 
disciples  with  gratitude  to  God  and  kindliest  remembrance 
of  their  early  instructor.  Such  monuments  are  more  lasting 
than  marble  or  brass,  more  dear  to  the  minister's  heart  than 
thrones  or  diadems. 

At  the  close  of  this  year,  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
the  Mississippi  Conference.  This  took  place  at  the  house 
of  "William  Filter,  Ksm,  of  Pine  Ridge,  Adams  county,  seven 
milea  above  Natchez.  Bishop  Roberts  mi  in  attendance. 
It  Lb  nrpposed  to  be  the  first  Conference  he  attended  after  hia 
ordination  in  May.  He  had  the  freehnees  of  yoiAg  bnt  full- 
grown  manhood  upon  him.  The  impression  thin  made  is 
not  effaced  to  tide  day.  Hi-  very  texts  and  hymns  are  yet 
remembered*  The  little  company  of  pioneers  then  assembled 
a  feeble  band — nine  in  number,  all  told.  They  had  to 
provide  tor  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  people,  so  for  as  Meth- 
odiam  waa  concerned,  from  the  Chattahoochee  to  the  Tcnnes- 
rirer,  and  from  the  Cherokee  nation  east  to  the  Sabine 
river  west  The  little  company  all  slept  under  the  same  roo£ 
and  ate  at  the  same  hospitable  table.  The  cottage — for  now 
it  Beems  quite  diminutive — still  stands,  almost  unchanged. 
It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  four  of  that  little  band,  at  the 
and  of  forty-one  years,  still  survive.  Five  have  finished  their 
course  with  joy.  Those  who  have  gone  to  their  reward  are 
Thomas  Griffin,  John  sfenifee,  John  Lane,  Ashley  Hewitt, 
ami  Alexander  Fleming;  The  raxrrrora  are  Teter  James, 
Elisha  Lott,  Thomas  Nixon,  ami  Elijah  Gentry.  Dr.  "Winans 
MM  local  at  the  time,  but  present  and  assisting  at  the  Con- 
ference. One  was  received  on  trial,  Thomas  Owens,  the  first 
recruit  in  the  Territory.  He  still  lives  to  bless  the  Church 
with  his  evangelical  labors. 

In  looking  over  the  territory  to  be  supplied  by  this  little 


JOHN    LANE.  239 

band,  we  are  constrained  to  exclaim,  What  hath  God 
wrought!  They  went  out  with  their  staff,  hut  now  they 
are  more  than  three  hands.  From  this  nucleus  have  sprung 
the  Alabama,  Louisiana,  two  Texas  Conferences,  and  a  part 
of  the  Memphis  Conference. 

At  the  close  of  this  Conference,  Mr.  Lane  was  sent  to  the 
"Wilkinson  Circuit.  In  this  field,  then  extending  from  Man- 
shac  and  Lake  Ponchartrain  on  the  south  to  Hamochitto  river 
on  the  north,  he  labored  two  years.  Here  he  formed  some 
of  his  most  sacred  and  lasting  friendships.  Many  of  those 
friends  live  to  mourn  his  loss,  and  cherish  his  memory  as  a 
pleasant  dream  of  the  past.  During  this  period,  Bishop 
McKendree  visited  this  country  in  very  feeble  health.  He 
had  for  his  travelling  companion  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Edge. 
To  return  to  the  Western  country,  it  was  necessary  to  make 
a  long  journey  in  the  wilderness  among  the  Cherokee  and 
Chickasaw  Indians.  In  his  feeble  condition,  the  Bishop  did 
not  think  Brother  Edge  could  carry  him  through.  He  de- 
sired Brother  E.  McGehee,  of  Wilkinson  county,  with  whom 
he  had  spent  most  of  the  winter,  to  accompany  him.  This 
being  impossible,  Brother  McGehee  recommended  Brother 
Lane  to  him.  He  assured  him  that  Lane  was  most  amiable, 
accommodating,  courageous,  and  powerful.  "  Should  it  be 
necessary,"  said  he,  "he  has  the  strength  and  courage  to 
take  you  in  his  arms  and  swim  the  rivers  with  you."  He 
was  immediately  selected,  and  the  journey  commenced. 
From  the  middle  of  the  Choctaw  nation,  the  Bishop  writes 
his  friend  McGehee:  "I  write  you  this  note  as  I  lie  on  my 
couch,  paper  held  in  my  hand.  Brother  Lane  is  all  you  re- 
commended him  to  be,  and  more ;  for,  in  addition,  he  is  a 
very  good  cook.  He  is  now  preparing  my  breakfast."  This 
passage  from  the  Bishop's  letter  is  quoted  from  memory.     It 


240  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

is  no  small  compliment  to  the  amiability  and  good  sense  of 
Brother  Lane  that  he  tilled  the  Bishop's  bill  for  a  travelling 
companion.  In  his  age,  infirmities,  and  exceeding  nervous- 
ness, he  was  sometimes  exacting.  So  well  pleased  was  he  in 
tlii.-  instance  thai  he  desired  hia  young  friend  to  become  his 
companion  for  Life,  which  he  probably  would  have  under- 
taken in  kindness  bat  for  b  prior  engagement  which  forbade  it. 
In  1819  and  1820,  he  again  Labored  on  the  Natchez  Circuit. 
As  bet'.. re,  his  Labors  were  yery  acceptable  and  useful,  lie 
did  not  Black  the  hand  of  diligence  or  restrain  the  heart  of 
Love.  Old  and  young,  black  and  white,  all  ages  and  condi- 
tions, .-bared  in  his  apostolic  Labors,  During  this  period,  an 
important  change  was  made  in  his  condition  in  lite.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Banm  Yi.k,  eldest  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
Newit  Viek.    Of  this  marriage,  we  will  say  but  little,  as  one 

of  the   parties   still    survives.      We  will    only   say,  God    and 

good  men  approved,  and  every  year  has  confirmed  the  ver- 
dict 
Brother  Lane  was  a  delegate  to  the  Genera]  Conference 

held    in    Baltimore,  May,  1820.      There   have  been    few   more 

eventful  General  Conferences  than  this.  Jt  was  then  that 
the  Presiding  Elder  question  was  sprung.  After  mueh  heated 
debate,  a  committee  of  compromise  was  appointed*    In  this 

committee  a  leading  Southern  member,  considered  against 
the  change,  was  so  far  overreached  by  his  fellow-committee 
men  as  to  agree  to  a  compromise  report,  as  it  was  called,  in- 
cluding nearly  .very  objectionable  feature  of  the  original 
proposition,  which  was  to  take  the  appointment  of  Presiding 
Elders  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Bishop,  and  give  it  to  the 
Conference,  and  make  the  Presiding  Elders,  with  the  Bishop, 
a  committee  to  station  the  preachers.  When  the  report  came 
in,  those  who  sought  the  change  insisted  that  the  vote  should 


JOHN    LANE.  241 

"be  taken  without  debate  as  a  compromise  measure.  This 
would  probably  have  carried  but  for  the  timely  obstinacy 
of  Lewis  Myers,  of  Georgia,  who  persisted  in  showing  its 
fallacy.  When  the  vote  was  taken,  there  were  but  fifteen 
who  stood  up  for  the  old  plan.  In  this  forlorn  hope  our 
friend  Lane  was  found.  The  Church  owes  a  debt  of  grati- 
tude to  them.  Their  principles  finally  prevailed,  after  a  long 
struggle.  The  question  was  set  at  rest  in  1828  by  an  over- 
whelming majority. 

Late  in  the  autumn  of  1820,  Brother  Lane  was  appointed 
Presiding  Elder  of  the  Mississippi  District,  then  extending 
from  the  Lakes  on  the  south  to  the  Yazoo  river  on  the  north, 
and  from  the  Mississippi  on  the  west  to  Leaf  River  on  the 
east — nearly  half  of  the  territory  now  occupied  by  the  present 
Mississippi  Conference. 

At  the  close  of  this  Conference  year,  he  asked  for  and  re- 
ceived a  location.  The  necessity  of  this  step  arose  from  the 
fact  that  both  his  father-in-law  and  mother-in-law  died  the 
same  day,  leaving  a  family  of  ten  children,  the  youngest  an 
infant.  There  was  no  one  of  the  children  old  enough  to  take 
charge  of  the  estate  or  rear  the  younger  children.  The 
estate,  though  considerable,  was  much  embarrassed,  and 
without  prompt  and  energetic  management,  must  have  been 
lost  to  the  family,  and  most  of  the  children  left  without  edu- 
cation. In  these  circumstances,  Brother  Lane  felt  himself 
imperiously  called  to  locate.  As  a  travelling  preacher  in 
those  days,  he  would  not  have  had  more  than  two  or  three 
days  in  a  month  to  attend  to  any  temporal  business.  On  his 
last  Circuit  he  had  but  one  rest-day  in  four  weeks,  and  on 
that  day  he  had  to  ride  thirty  miles  to  reach  home.  I  pre- 
sume any  one  would  decide  that  he  did  right  to  locate. 

He  continued  in  a  local  sphere  for  eleven  years.    During 
16 


242  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

that  period,  I  think  I  am  sate  in  Baying  that  he  performed 
more  ministerial  labor,  and  was  tar  more  useful,  than  many 
itinerant  preachers.  One  year  he  was  employed  by  the  Pre- 
siding Elder  to  take  charge  of  the  Vicksbnrg  Station,  when 
it  was  first  organized  as  a  station.  Another  year,  by  the  re- 
(jnest  of  the  Presiding  Elder  and  consent  of  the  Bishop,  ho 
acted  ai  Presiding  Elder  for  three  or  four  months.  For  ~ix 
or  eight  months,  while  residing  in  New  Orleans  for  business 
purposes,  he  acted  as  pastor  of  the  little  flock,  then  wholly 
without  a  shepherd.  In  this  capacity  he  not  only  lahored 
with  seal,  hut  with  acceptableneas  ami  marked  usefulness. 
During  the  Bame  period,  I  knew  him  to  go,  at  tin'  call  of  a 
stranger,  (I  was  that  Btranger,)  near  two  hundred  miles, 
lismal  swamp  of  tin-  Mississippi,  at  the  mouth  of 
Bed  River,  *  in  holding  the  first  camp-meetjpw  ever 

held  in  Western  Louisiana,  near  Cheneyville,  on  the  Bayou 
Bccuf.  These  are  only  Bpecimens  of  his  seal  and  devotion 
to  the  work  as  a  local  preacher.  These  services  wen-  all 
buitous.  It  is  probable  his  expenses  were  never  paid  in  a 
Bingle  instai 

During  this  period,  he  laid  oil",  and  sold  out,  the  town  of 
Vicksbn  me  a  merchant  on  rather  a  large  scale ;  acted 

as  Judge  of  the  Probate  Court  of  "Warren  county  for  many 
years;  had  the  burden  of  rearing  and  educating  most  of  his 
wife's  brothers  and  Bisters,  and  so  managed  the  estate  as  to 
give  them  all  a  competence  at  maturity.  As  he  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  financiers  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  he  was  long  a  director  of  the  Railroad  Bank  of 
Vickshurg.  There  were  few  projects  in  that  vicinity  for  the 
tit  of  the  country  in  which  he  did  not  take  an  active 
and  leading  part. 

For  some  years  the  estate  of  Mr.  Vick  was  exceedingly 


JOHN    LANE.  243 

embarrassed,  and  Brother  Lane  was  at  his  wits'  end  to  pre- 
serve it  from  sacrifice.  Finally  his  schemes  all  seemed  to 
succeed,  and  he  considered  his  head  quite  above  the  wave. 
Having  accomplished  the  object  for  which  he  located,  he  did 
not  feel  at  liberty  longer  to  continue  in  that  relation.  In 
1832,  he  reentered  the  travelling  Connection ;  but  his  exten- 
sive credit  and  the  great  goodness  of  his  heart  again  embar- 
rassed him.  Flush  times  were  just  coming  on  in  Mississippi ; 
many  of  his  friends  desired  the  use  of  his  name  for  specu- 
lating purposes.  This  was  granted  too  freely.  When  the 
reverses  of  1837  and  1838  came  on,  he  found  himself  again 
involved.  While  he  was  not  always  able  to  meet  his  engage- 
ments, he  always  showed  an  honest  front,  never  repudiating 
one  dime  of  his  own  or  his  friends'  responsibilities,  or  putting 
himself  out  of  the  power  of  his  creditors.  Some  might  have 
thought  the  waiting  long,  but  his  struggles  were  immense  to 
mfcet  all  his  liabilities,  and  still  preserve  something  for  his 
family.  Before  his  death,  he  had  paid  more  than  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  of  security  debts !  It  is  pleasing  to 
know  that  he  left  enough  to  meet  all  his  liabilities,  and  some- 
thing over  for  his  family. 

I  have  been  more  particular  in  relating  his  pecuniary  cir- 
cumstances, to  exhibit  what  seems  to  me  the  noblest  trait  in 
his  character.  It  was  a  firm  determination  to  do  his  duty 
to  God  and  the  Church,  in  spite  of  all  worldly  interests. 
While  in  a  local  sphere,  though  he  had  followed  what  seemed 
the  evident  dictates  of  duty,  he  was  never  contented.  He 
sighed  to  take  his  part  with  his  brethren  in  the  great  itine- 
rant field.  That  work  was  deeply  graven  on  his  heart.  At 
one  time  he  was  near  unto  death  for  many  weeks.  Nothing 
so  preyed  on  his  mind  as  the  idea  that  he  was  to  die,  as  he 
said,  "  out  of  the  harness."    When  he  returned  to  the  regular 


244  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHl 

work,  nobly  did  he  lay  all  worldly  }>;  on  the  altar  of 

sacrifice.  Buthe  might  have  thought  he  could  preserve  his 
fortune  and  do  the  work.  God  permitted  him  to  be  farther 
tried.  For  many  long  years  the  straggle  seemed  between 
absolute  poverty  and  abandoning  the  work.  Then  he  had  ■ 
family  who  had  been  brought  up  with  the  prospect  ofaffiu- 
Their  habits  were  formed  in  view  of  this  state  of  life, 
God  and  be  who  has  passed  through  the  same  only  know 

how  sorely   the   enemy   can    thru-t    in    these    riivum.-tances. 

Well  might  he  say  in  his  last  hours,  "1  have  Loved  the 
(  rch,  and  made  many  sacrifices  to  continue  in  the  itine- 
rant mini-try."  When  thus  Borely  pressed,  In-  writes  to  his 
beloved  friend  Dr,  Winans:  "Nothing  hut  the  most  sraoced 

obligation  could  have  arged  me  to  this  work."      And  a^ain  : 
'•I   ..  ar  that   this  work  will   injur.'   my  temporal  »JHC^3i 
when  my  duty  to  Qod  and  the  Chnrch  comes  in  contact  with 
my  temporal  business,  the  less,  I  hope,  will  always  yhlofAp. 
Well  did  he  sustain  this  principle,     ft'  1- ;i-lf    • 
;.t  him  from  an  appointment,  T  have  it  yel  to 

learn.      When  tin-  hour  came,  he  tore  himself  away,  how. 

difficult  or  disastrous.  There  was  nol  a  man  in  Mississippi 
more  famous  for  meeting  all  his  appointments.  For  yean 
we  may  consider  him  as  "following  in  darkness,  where  tl 

ao  light,"  but  still  "  staying  himself "  on  the  Divine  arm. 
We  have  known  many  sacrifices  laid  on  G  altar;  but  if 
we  have  ever  known  one  more  noble,  full,  and  free  than  John 
Lane'.-,  we  are  not  aware  of  it.  J  Jut  as  he  now  look-  down 
from  his  high  Beat  above,  do<  I  any  of  these  sacri- 

-  !     I  trow  not. 
On  his  return  to  the  Conference,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Yazoo  District :  in  1834,  1885,  and  1886,  Vicksburg  District : 
in  1887,  he  was  agent  for  an  academy:  in  1888,  missionary 


JOHN    LANE.  245 

to  people  of  color  in  Warren  Circuit :  then  four  years  on  the 
Vicksburg  District:  in  1843,  Jackson  District:  then  two 
years  on  "Warren  Circuit :  in  1846  and  1847,  agent  for  Cente- 
nary College :  in  1848,  Yazoo  District :  then  four  years  on 
Vicksburg  District :  in  1853  and  1854,  on  Lake  Washington 
District:  in  1855,  Warren  Circuit,  where  he  finished  his 
course  with  joy.  For  many  years  he  was  the  President  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Centenary  College,  and  for  a  still 
greater  number  of  years  the  President  of  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety of  the  Mississippi  Conference. 

I  give  this  long  list  to  show  the  extent  and  variety  of  his 
labors.  In  all  he  was  equally  faithful.  A  number  of  times 
he  served  the  Church  as  delegate  to  the  General  Conference, 
and  always  with  promptness,  fidelity,  and  honor.  No  amount 
of  heat 'jot  cold,  wet  or  dry,  sunshine  or  storm,  could  prevent 
him  from  attending  his  appointments.  In  his  younger  days 
he  frequently  swam  creeks,  five  and  six  times  a  clay,  to  reach 
•  his  appointment;  and  to  the  very  last  no  weather  stopped 
him.  In  the  bitter  winter  of  1855,  he  might  be  seen  breast- 
ing the  heaviest  storm  to  reach  some  small,  out-of-the-way 
church,  with  no  prospect  of  meeting  more  than  a  half  dozen, 
if  so  many,  when  he  arrived.  When  remonstrated  with  for 
exposing  himself  for  so  small  an  object,  his  reply  was,  it 
would  not  do  to  make  it  uncertain  whether  he  would  be 
there.  Often  he  would  leave  home  when  the  rain  was  pour- 
ing, and  when  urged  to  remain  by  his  family,  he  would  reply, 
"  The  rain  may  be  over  by  the  time  of  service,  and  the  people 
may  be  there,  and  it  will  not  do  to  disappoint  them." 

Late  in  the  autumn  of  1854,  he  had  a  severe  attack  of 
sickness,  something  of  the  nature  of  flux.  This  greatly 
reduced  him.  He  came  to  Conference  in  Jackson,  Louisi- 
ana, quite   emaciated.      Both  his  flesh  and   strength  were 


x*i 


lM'>  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

gone.  Tn  these  circumstances,  the  Bishop  thought  him 
no  longer  able  to  stand  the  fatigues  of  the  extensive  and 
laborious  District  over  which  he  Lad  been  presiding.  Un- 
willing to  turn  back  in  the  day  of  battle,  with  a  heart  still 
for  the  work,  while  his  hands  faltered,  he  insisted  that  his 
disej  only  temporary,  and  that  he  should  soon  be  aide 

I  in  the  front  of  the  battle,  as  he  had  always  gone.  It 
would  seem  his  judgment  was  correct,  for  in  the  course  of 
the  winter  he  measurably  recovered  his  strength.  The  work 
assigned  him  was  comparatively  light,  and  mar  his  residence. 
lit-  was  able  to  meel  most  or  all  of  his  appointments,  and,  as 
has  been  intimated,  permitted  no  weather  to  prevent  him. 
But  it  is  believed  that  his  constitution  received  a  Bhock  in 
the  attack  of  the  previous  autumn  from  which  he  Bad*  not 
rally  recovered,  and  which  probably  mad'-  it  an  ejfierprey 
to  the  fell  destroyer  which  attacked  him  the  ensuingButumn. 
11     friends  ol  I  with  pain  thai  bis  step  was  not  quite  so 

tic  n<>r  his  countenance  so  bright  as  formerly.    He  re- 
sided in  the  environs  of  Yicksburg.     In  the  autumn  of  1855, 

yellow  r  in  visited  that  city.    Though  while  re- 

siding in  the  heart  of  the  city  he  had  passed  through  Beveral 

re  epidemics  of  this  dreaded  scourge,  and  done  his  duty 
faithfully  to  the  Bick  and  dying,  and  I  an  attack,  yet, 

as  the  disease  had  seemed  to  become  more  virulent,  and  his 
work  was  entirely  in  the  country,  and  many  were  afraid  to 
see  one  who  had  been  in  the  infected  district,  he  thought  it 
best  to  avoid  it.  But  the  fever  was  introduced  into  his  family 
by  the  passing  of  servants.  Then,  with  the  humanity  ah 
characteristic  of  his  nature,  ;  every  attention  to  the 

siek.  So  well  did  he  nurse  them,  that  they  all  recovered; 
but  he  fell  a  victim. 

From  the  time  the  disease  seized  him.  he  felt  that  his  work 


JOHN    LANE.  247 

was  done.  Indeed,  for  weeks  previous,  lie  had  seemed  to  be 
ripening  for  heaven.  His  family  observed  that  his  prayers  at 
the  family-altar  were  more  fervent.  Often  he  would  rise 
from  his  knees  with  eyes  suffused  with  tears ;  and  now  that 
he  heard  the  rumbling  of  his  Master's  chariot- wheels,  calmly 
and  patiently  did  he  await  his  coming.  He  gave  his  parting 
benediction  to  his  family,  and  sent  messages  of  love  to  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry.  "  God  knows  that  I  have  loved  the 
Church,  and  have  made  many  pecuniary  sacrifices  to  labor  in 
the  itinerant  ministry.  I  do  not  now  regret  those  sacrifices ; 
but  I  trust  in  none  of  them  for  salvation.  I  simply  cling  to 
the  bleeding  cross." 

His  last  interview  with  the  companion  of  his  joys  and  sor- 
rows, which  was  effected  by  carrying  her  in  the  arms  of 
friends  from  her  own  sick-room  to  his  bedside,  was  too  ten- 
der, too  full  of  pathos,  for  the  public  gaze.  The  fulness  of  a 
lifetime  of  love  gushed  up  from  these  breaking  hearts  in  a 
single  moment.  But  their  sorrow  was  not  without  hope.  A 
bright  vista  opened  up  before  the  eyes  of  their  faith,  where  a 
speedy  reunion  would  take  place, 

"Where  the  Lamb  and  the  white-vested  elders  are  met." 

It  is  hard  to  contemplate  the  scene  that  transpired  at  this 
cottage-home  without  saying,  with  Dr.  Young, 

"  The  chamber  where  the  good  man  meets  his  fate 
Is  privileged  beyond  the  common  walks  of  virtuous  life, 
Quite  in  the  verge  of  heaven." 

Only  a  few  short  hours  passed,  and  the  heavenly  convoy 
again  descended.  Now  it  was  to  convey  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  John  Massillon  Lane,  to  the  better  land.  He  was  a 
lovely,  promising  young  man,  who  had  just  entered  on  the 
practice  of  medicine.     Early  had  he  dedicated  his  heart  to 


248  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

God :  hence,  when  the  messenger  came,  he  had  his  "  loins 
girded  about,  and  his  lamp  burning."  Those  who  saw  his 
face  "beheld  it  as  the  bee  of  an  angel."  So  rapturous  were 
the  wordfl  which  came  from  his  dying  lips  that  they  might 
have  been  mistaken  m  coming  from  the  burning  lips  of  the 
cherubim. 

A  few  rising  and  setting  suns,  and  the  "chariot  of  tire" 
again  visited  that  consecrated  spot  Now  it  is  to  cany  the 
only  daughter,  one  of  the  fairest  id*  earth's  flowers,  the  lowly 
Eugenia,  (Mrs.  King.)  to  the  glory  land.  She  was  in  the 
prime  of  young  womanhood,  united  to  the  husband  of  her 

;,  and  blessed  with  a  cherub  babe.  But  all  could  not 
hold  her  here.  En  her  chamber  heaven  and  earth  seemed  to 
commingle.  Her  departed  friends  crowded  round  her  bed: 
she  spoke  of  them,  told  who  they  were,  how  glorious  their 
forms:  her  countenance  grew  more  and  more  bright,  until  it 

o^uite  transfigured,  and  death  was  Bwallowed  up  in  vic- 
tory.    Who  does  not  say,  "Let  me  die  the  death  of  the 
righteon 
The  Rev.  John  Lane,  in  his  early  manhood,  was  what  is 

rally  called  handsome.  His  form  was  most  perfect — a 
model  for  the  sculptor — his  features  perfectly  regular.     He 

.-lightly  under  .-i.\  feet  high:   Intellectual  organs  finely 

Loped:  in  middle  age,  slightly  Laid:  finely  pencilled 
brow,  of  darkest  brown,  and  full  prominence,  -hailing  a  dark 

I  eye  of  sparkling  brilliancy  and  unusual  benignity: 
nose,  in  due  proportion:  teeth  regular,  and  perfect  to  the 
last:  lips  evincing  great  good-humor:  entire  countenance 
usually  grave  and  thoughtful,  but  often  lighted  up  with  the 
blandest  smile.  His  voice  was  soft  and  melodious,  often  had 
a  touching  sweetness.  As  he  was  full  of  emotion,  the  pa- 
thetic was  his  chief  power. 


JOHN    LANE.  249 

"When  lie  passed  the  middle  of  life,  lie  became  slightly  corpu- 
lent, not  to  deformity,  but  sufficient  to  give  to  his  person  the 
graceful  rotundity  that  makes  age  agreeable.  He  was  scru- 
pulously cleanly  in  his  person,  and  genteel  in  his  attire,  but 
perfectly  plain — at  an  equal  distance  from  the  dandy  and  the 
sloven.  In  the  "assembly  of  the  Elders,"  as  he  was  often 
seen  in  our  General  Conferences,  he  never  failed  to  make  an 
impression  on  the  lookers-on,  who  would  always  inquire  who 
he  was. 

His  preaching  was  mild  and  persuasive,  abounding  in  per- 
tinent anecdote.  Sometimes  it  rose  to  great  earnestness  and 
thrilling  appeal.  Large  congregations  were  often  swayed 
and  melted  by  his  heavenly  pathos.  His  gestures  were  few, 
but  appropriate  and  perfectly  natural.  The  modulation  of 
his  fine  voice  was  perfect.  His  friends  who  heard  him  most 
complained  that  there  was  not  much  variety  in  his  discourses. 
This  unquestionably  originated  in  the  fact  that  while  his 
theological  studies  were  immature,  he  was  plunged  into  a 
whirlpool  of  business  and  embarrassment  well  calculated  to 
divert  his  mind  from  these  studies.  And  this  state  of  things 
continued  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  through  life.  He  un- 
doubtedly had  a  mind  capable  of  the  highest  combinations 
and  clearest  discrimination.  But  he  was  a  modest  man :  had 
not  the  self-sufficiency  that  would  make  him  intrude  himself 
in  every  question.  Hence  he  rarely  spoke  in  deliberative 
bodies :  when  he  did  speak,  it  was  to  the  point.  His  judg- 
ment, seldom  at  fault,  was  clear  and  well  informed. 

Brother  Lane  was  a  man  of  great  firmness  of  character. 
Let  him  believe  himself  right,  and  no  array  of  numbers  or 
character  of  his  opponents  could  move  him.  This  was  finely 
illustrated  in  his  determination  to  persevere  in  his  journey 
through  the  Indian  nation,  and  in  the  stand  he  took  in  the 


250  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

General  Conference  of  1820.  It  was  that  which  would  have 
made  him  a  hero  if  called  to  the  battle-field,  or  a  martyr  if 
called  to  the  stake.  Yet  he  had  not  what  would  he  called  a 
strong  will  where  duty  <>r  principle  was  not  involved.  Such 
were  his  amiability  and  desire  to  please  others,  that  he  would 
yield  readily  where  conscience  would  allow.  lie  was,  as  has 
.  Long  in  the  Presiding  Elder's  office,  which  is 
one  of  great  delicacy  and  responsibility,  very  liable  to  lead 
t<»  distrust.  Such  was  his  uniform  urbanity,  kindness,  and 
impartiality,  that  I  never  heard  him  complained  of  but  once, 
and  then  an  explanation  satisfied  the  brother  that  he  was 
mistaken. 

Benevolent  beerful  hospitality  were  his  distinguish- 

ing characteristics.  When  he  had  means  in  his  posst '--inn, 
no  poor  preacher  could  go  without  a  hone,  or  coat,  or  general 
outtit;  i  widow  could  be  without  bread,  or  the  mi 

ducating  her  children.  Benevolent  institutions  of  all 
sorts  were  hi-  debtors.  Had  he  been  s  millionaire,  like  Job 
he  would  have  been  eyes  to  the  blindj  feet  to  the  lame,  a 
father  to  the  ] r.  With  his  limited  means,  and  often  em- 
barrassed, he  made  many  a  "widow's  heart  sing  for  joy," 
and  many  an  orphan  rose  to  bless  him.  If  his  charities  were 
ispitality  was  unbounded.  For  twenty  years  after 
he  was  a  housekeeper,  he  never  -at  at  his  own  table  with  his 
family  alone.  For  many  years  while  he  lived  in  the  heart  of 
Vicksburg,  his  house  was  a  sort  of  hotel  of  hospitality. 
Brethren  in  the  ministry  of  all  denominations,  and  friends 
from  all  quarters  and  every  condition  in  life,  found  cheerful 
admittance.  No  amount  of  inconvenience  ever  put  a  frown 
upon  the  cheerful  browr  of  either  host  or  hostess.  At  the 
Conference  of  1832,  lie  entertained  from  twenty-live  to  thirty 
of  the  preachers  in  attendance,  besides  other  friends.    At  ten 


JOHN    LANE.  251 

o'clock  at  night,  I  knew  of  his  having  to  purchase  a  bale  of 
blankets  to  meet  the  unexpected  demand. 

A  friend  of  Brother  Lane  writes  to  me,  "He  was  preemi- 
nently a  Church  man."  The  Methodist  branch  of  the  Church 
was  his  hearty,  his  unequivocal  choice.  Without  bigotry  in 
his  own  opinions,  or  hostility  to  any  other  branch  of  Christ's 
Church,  he  clave  to  Methodism  with  an  undying  attachment. 
Never  could  one  say  with  more  truth  than  he : 

"For  her,  my  tears  shall  fall, 
For  her,  my  prayers  ascend, 
To  her,  my  cares  and  toils  be  given, 
Till  toils  and  cares  shall  end." 

Nor  was  it  any  remodelled,  modernized,  reformed,  and  im- 
proved association  at  whose  shrine  he  worshipped  with  such 
devotion.  It  was  the  pure,  simple,  God -approved  form  of 
Methodism  which  came  down  to  us  from  our  fathers.  To 
work  the  old  system  well,  with  him  was  better  than  to  try 
new  experiments. 

In  his  social  relations  he  was  peculiarly  agreeable.  "With 
little  children  he  was  mirthful,  playful  as  one  of  themselves. 
Hence  he  was  a  great  favorite.  With  a  company  of  Christian 
friends,  and  especially  of  Methodist  preachers,  he  relaxed 
into  the  blandest  good-humor:  full  of  anecdote,  which  he 
told  in  good  style,  he  was  the  life  of  the  company.  His 
friendships  were  strong  and  undying.  No  change  of  fortune, 
though  he  was  greatly  injured  by  that  change,  changed  his 
attachments.     He  never  forsook,  rarely  ever  lost  a  friend. 

His  domestic  relations  were  about  as  perfect  as  falls  to  the 
lot  of  mortals.  He  never  seemed  to  lose  the  ardor  of  first 
love  for  the  companion  of  his  joys  and  sorrows.  Her  pre- 
sence and  that  of  his  children  was  his  earthly  paradise.  But 
his  affection  for  his  children  was  not  the  foolish  fondness  that 


202  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

lets  the  young  masters  do  as  they  choose :  it  was  the  rational 
love  of  a  Christian  father  who  felt  that  he  was  responsible  to 
rule  well  his  own  house.  He  did  govern  them  absolutely, 
peremptorily;  but  such  was  the  affection  and  mildness  of 
thai  government  that  even  correction  attached  them  the  more 
to  him.  The  family-altar  was  never  thrown  down  or  neg- 
lected, and  all  the  children  were  required  to  be  present  at  the 
offering  of  the  morning  and  evening  sacrifice.  As  a  result 
of  this  kind  of  government,  he  had  the  onspeakable  happi- 
ness to  Bee  all  of  his  children  members  of  the  church.  Two 
have  gone  i"  join  him  in  the  better  land;  the  other  two,  we 
trust,  are  mi  the  way.  An  intimate  friend  of  the  family  says 
had  the  mortification  of  an  act  of  flagrant  immoral- 
ity from  one  of  his  children.  Happy  father!  may  God  bless 
his  descendants  to  the  latest  generation  ! 

His  domestics  were  governed,  but  with  the  same  kind  hand 
that  governed  his  children.  Old  Ma  I  r  is  now  the  greatest 
saint  in  all  their  calendar.  W  they  dream  of  heaven,  it  is  to 
see  61    M      r  in  his  white  robes. 

His  personal  piety  was  like  the  rest  of  his  character — 
consistent.  It  was  deep,  sincere,  earnest :  no  fanaticism,  no 
Pharisaism — evangelical  to  the  last  degree.    His  whole  char- 

;        r  was  a  beautiful  model. 

His  death  has  made  a  wide  chasm  in  the  social  and  re- 
ligious circles  in  Vicksbnrg  and  in  the  Mississippi  Confer- 
ence. Few  men  have  been  called  from  among  us  whose 
death  sent  stub  a  dagger  to  so  many  hearts.  But  he  is  not 
lost,  but  gone  before.  Heaven  is  more  attractive  to  many  by 
his  removal.  "There  all  the  ship's  company  will  soon  meet." 
May  I  be  there  ! 


RICHMOND    NOLLEY.  253 


RICHMOND  NOLLEY. 

BY    THE    REV.    H.    N.    M'TYEIRE. 

The  Bible  tells  that  once  the  grave  of  a  prophet  of  God 
was  opened,  and  his  bones  disturbed,  with  striking  effect 
following:  "And  when  the  man  was  let  down,  and  touched 
the  bones  of  Elisha,  he  revived,  and  stood  up  on  his  feet." 
2  Kings  xiii.  21. 

Louisiana  has  been  the  Macedonia  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Her  itinerant  preachers  crossed  the  Missis- 
sippi river  in  quest  of  souls  into  Attakapas  and  Opelousas. 
It  is  now  half  a  century  since.  There  Protestantism  planted 
its  first  churches  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Richmond  Nolley 
bore  a  part  in  this  pioneer  movement,  and  was  the  first  to 
die  in  it. 

Providence  seemed  to  open  the  way ;  yet  the  gospel  plough- 
share never  struck  into  harder  soil  than  south-western  Louisi- 
ana. Within  a  short  time  the  territory  had  been  under  three 
governments,  two  of  which  favored  the  Roman  Catholic 
establishment.  The  mass  of  people  spoke  the  French  lan- 
guage, and  were  prejudiced  against  the  doctrines  of  the 
Reformation.  They  were  either  professed  Catholics,  or 
infidels,  after  the  school  of  French  philosophy.  Elsewhere 
the  West  was  virgin  soil :  here  it  had  been  sown  with  tares. 


254  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Shortly  after  the  cession  of  Louisiana  to  the  United  States, 
the  old  Western  Conference  took  into  consideration  the 
religious  condition  of  its  inhabitants,  which  was  lamentable 
indeed.  A  brave,  i^. nil v  man  volunteered.  Elisha  AV.  Bow- 
man  was  sent  by  Bishop  Asbury  to  hnnt  out  the  American 

settlements,  ami  makr  a  beginning  among  them.      There  L8  a 

private  Letter  of  his  that  is  of  historic  importance,  and  not 
irrelevant  t<»  a  biographical  sketch  of  one  of  hia  successors. 
It  was  written  "to  the  Etev.  William  Burke,  Lexington,  Kj." 
ami  postmarked  "Natchez,  Miss." 

"Dear  Bxothbb:  These  pages  will  inform  you  thai  I  found 

through   a   perilous  wilderness  to  the   eity  of 

bus.     This  eity  lies  extremely  low,  the  surface  of  the 
river  being  as  high  as  tin-   street-,  ami  is  kepi   out  by  a  !• 

which  is  casl  up  immediately  on  the  hank,  ami  from  its  low 
situation  it  is  as  filthy  as  a  hog-sty.  A-  for  the  settlements 
of  this  country,  there  are  none  that  are  composed  of  Ameri- 
can-. 

"From  Baton  Etouge,  the  Spanish  garrison,  which  stands 
on  the  east  hank  of  the  Mississippi  river,  down  two  hundred 
mile-,  it  i-  settled  immediately  on  each  hank  of  the  river  by 
French  ami  Spaniards.  The  Land  is  dry  on  each  n<le  ahout 
forty,  ami  in  Bon  -  fifty  rods  wide,  and  then  a  cypress 

swamp  extends  each  way  to  the  lakes,  ami  will  never  admit 
of  any  settlements  until  you  cross  the  lakes  to  the  cast  and 

We.-t. 

"When  I  reached  the  city,  I  was  much  disappointed  in 
finding  but  few  American  people  there,  and  a  majority  of 
that  few  may  truly  be  called  the  beasts  of  men.  There  are 
a  few  families  that  are  called  respectable,  and  these  are  Epis- 
copalians, ami  they  have  a  preacher  of  their  own,  a  Mr. 


RICHMOND    NOLLET.  255 

Chase,  from  Baltimore,  [afterward  Bishop  Chase,  of  Illinois.] 
He  arrived  in  this  city  about  the  time  I  left  the  Con- 
ference. 

"Mr.  "Watson,  the  gentleman  to  whom  I  was  recommended 
by  Mr.  Asbury,  had  left  the  city  early  in  the  fall,  and  had 
gone  home  to  Philadelphia.  I  went  to  the  Governor,  and 
told  him  my  business  to  that  place.  He  promised  me  protec- 
tion, and  told  me  I  should  have  the  Capitol  of  the  city  to 
preach  in,  which  he  said  should  be  at  my  service.  My 
appointment  was  published  for  the  next  Lord's  day ;  but  in 
the  interval  I  found  that  the  parson  and  his  people  were  not 
very  well  pleased.  On  Sunday,  when  I  came  to  the  Capitol, 
I  found  the  doors  all  locked,  and  the  house  inaccessible.  I 
found  a  few  drunken  sailors  and  Frenchmen  about  the  walks 
of  the  house,  and  I  preached  to  them  in  the  open  air.  In 
the  evening  I  heard  that  my  Episcopalian  brethren  were  at 
the  bottom  of  all  this. 

"  The  next  day  I  went  to  the  Governor  and  Mayor  of  the 
city,  and  informed  them  how  I  had  been  treated :  they  then 
promised  me  to  issue  an  order  for  the  house  to  be  opened 
and  placed  at  my  service.  The  next  Sunday,  when  I  came 
with  my  landlord  and  a  few  others,  we  found  the  doors  again 
locked,  and  I  again  preached  to  ten  or  twelve  persons  in  the 
open  air.  I  went  again  to  the  officers,  but  got  no  satisfaction. 
In  the  evening,  as  I  passed  along  the  street,  I  heard  them 
pouring  out  heavy  curses  on  the  Methodist,  and  saying,  "  He 
is  a  Methodist:  lock  him  out;"  and  they  told  me  plainly 
I  was  not  to  have  the  privilege  of  the  house.  One  of  the 
officers  told  me  that  the  Methodists  were  a  dangerous  people, 
and  ought  to  be  discouraged.  I  asked  him  what  harm  the 
Methodists  had  done :  he  said  they  were  seeking  an  establish- 
ment.    I  told  him  it  was  an  unjust  censure :  he  got  into  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

passion,  and  I  left  him.  The  next  Sunday  I  preached  to  a 
few  Btraggling  people  in  the  open  street. 

"The  Lord's  day  is  the  day  of  general  rant  In  this  city; 
public  halls  arc  held,  merchandise  of  every  kind  is  carried 
on,  public  Bales,  wagons  running,  and  drama  beating;  and 
thus  is  the  Sahhath  spent. 

"I  sought  in  vain  for  a  house  to  preach  in.  Several  persons 
offered  to  rent  me  a  house,  hut  I  have  not  money  to  rent  a 
My  expenses  I  found  to  be  about  two  dollars  a  day 
for  myself  and  hone,  and  my  money  pretty  well  spent.  I 
.hut  could<no1  get  forty  dollars  lor  him. 
Thu-  I  was  in  this  difficult  situation,  without  a  friend  to 
advise  me.  I  was  three  hundred  miles  from  Brother  Black- 
man,  and  could  get  no  advice  from  him;  and  what  to  do  I 
did  not  know.  T  could  have  no  access  to  the  people,  and  to 
go  back  to  Natchez  is  to  do  nothing,  as  there  was  a  sufficient 
Bupply  of  preachers  for  that  part;  and  to  leave  my  station 
without  Mr.  Aflbury's  directioD  was  like  death  to  me,  and  to 

stay  here  I  could  do  nothing.  But  by  inquiring,  I  heard  of 
a  settlement  of  American  people  about  two  hundred  miles  to 
the  west  and  north-west.  By  getting  a  small  boat,  and  cross- 
ing the  lakes.  T  could  reach  the  Opelousas  country  ;  and  as  I 
was  left  to  think  by  myself,  I  thought  this  most  advisable. 
I  accordingly,  on  the  17th  day  of  December,  Bhook  off  the 
dirt  from  my  feet  against  this  ungodly  city  of  Orleans,  and 
resolved  to  try  the  watery  waste  and  pathless  desert 

"I  travelled  fifty  miles  up  the  Mississippi  river,  and  cro- 
to  a  river  that  forces  itself  out  of  the  Mississippi,  and  runs 
into  the  sea  in  a  south-west  direction;  down  which  river  I 
travelled  fifty  miles,  and  then  turned  a  western  course  fifteen 
miles,  through  a  cypress  swamp,  to  the  lake.  ITere  the  mos- 
quitoes like  to  have  eaten  up  me  and  my  horse. 


RICHMOND    NOLLEY.  257 

"  Here  are  a  few  Spaniards  living  on  this  lake.  I  got  two 
large  canoes  of  them,  and  built  a  platform  on  them,  on  which 
I  put  my  horse.  I  hired  two  of  the  Spaniards  to  go  with  me 
across  the  lakes,  for  which  I  paid  them  thirteen  dollars  and  a 
half,  and  through  the  mercy  of  God  I  had  a  safe  passage 
through  four  lakes  and  a  large  bay.  Here  I  saw  an  old 
Spaniard  boiling  salt  on  a  small  island.  I  landed  a  little 
south  of  the  mouth  of  the  river  O'Tash.  Here  a  few  French- 
men are  living  at  the  mouth  of  this  river,  and  a  few  American 
families  are  scattered  along  this  bay  and  river,  who  came 
here  in  the  time  of  the  American  war,  but  not  for  any  good 
deeds  they  had  done.  I  have  now  three  dollars  left,  but  God 
is  as  able  to  feed  me  two  years  on  two  dollars,  as  he  was  to 
feed  Elijah  at  the  brook,  or  five  thousand  with  a  few  loaves 
and  fishes. 

"  I  travelled  up  the  west  side  of  the  river  O'Tash  eighty 
miles.  The  land  is  dry  immediately  on  the  banks  of  this 
river,  and  about  twenty  rods  wide,  with  cypress  extending  to 
the  sea-marsh.  On  the  east  side  of  it  are  lakes  and  swamps. 
Eighty  miles  up  there  is  a  large  French  settlement.  A  few 
families  of  Americans  are  scattered  among  them,  but  I  could 
not  find  two  families  together. 

"  I  then  passed  through  a  small  tribe  of  Indians,  and  then 
crossed  the  Vermilion  river,  which  runs  into  the  sea  in  a 
south-west  direction.  Here  I  had  a  fine  sea-breeze.  The 
next  day  I  reached  the  Opelousas  country,  and  the  next  I 
reached  the  Catholic  church.  I  was  surprised  to  see  a  pair 
of  race  paths  at  the  church  door. 

"  Here  I  found  a  few  Americans,  who  were  swearing  with 

almost  every  breath ;  and  when  I  reproved  them  for  swearing, 

they  told  me  that  the  priest  swore  as  hard  as  they  did.    They 

said  he  would  play  cards  and  dance  with  them  every  Sunday 

17 


258  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

evening,  after  mass !  And,  strange  to  tell,  he  keeps  a  race- 
horse !  in  a  word,  practices  every  abomination.  I  told  them 
plainly,  if  they  did  not  quit  swearing,  they  and  their  priest 
would  go  to  hell  together. 

"About  twenty  miles  from  this  place,  I  found  a  settlement 
of  American  people  who  came  to  this  country  about  the  time 
of  the  American  war.  Tiny  know  very  little  more  about  the 
nature  of  salvation  than  the  untaught  Indians.  Some  of 
them,  after  I  had  preached  to  them,  asked  me  what  I  meant 
by  the  fall  of  man,  and  when  it  was  that  he  fell.  Thus  they 
are  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge,  and  are  truly  in  ■  pitia- 
ble condition.  I  have  to  learn  them  to  sing,  and  in  fact  do 
every  thing  that  is  like  worshipping  God.  I  find  it  also  very 
difficult  to  get  them  to  attend  meetings;  for,  if  they  come 
once,  they  think  they  have  done  me  s  very  great  favor. 

"About  thirty  miles  from  here,  I  found  another  small  settle- 
ment of  English  people,  who  were  in  as  great  a  state  of 
ignorance  as  the  above;  but  T  get  as  many  of  them  together 
as  I  can,  and  preach  Jesus  Christ  to  them.  O,  my  God!  have 
mercy  on  the  souls  of  this  people. 

"I  find  the  people  very  much  dissatisfied  with  the  Ameri- 
can Government,  and  we  have  B  constant  talk  of  war.  The 
Spaniards  arc  fortifying  themselves  all  round  the  coast;  and 
three-fourths  of  die  people  hope  they  will  get  this  country 
again.     This  I  hope  will  never  be  the  case. 

"Three-fourths  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  country,  I  suppose, 
are  French.  And  as  to  the  country,  it  is  entirely  level,  and, 
I  suppose,  three-fourths  prairie.  The  people  are  rich  in 
cattle.  They  have  from  one  to  two  and  three  thousand  head 
of  cattle  to  a  farmer;  and,  notwithstanding  their  large 
stocks,  you  might  with  ease  carry  on  your  back  all  that  you 
could  find  in  many  of  their  houses. 


RICHMOND    NOLLEY.  259 

"It  is  now  the  29th  day  of  January,  and,  from  the  great 
quantity  of  rain  that  has  fallen,  and  the  low  situation  of  this 
country,  it  is  almost  everywhere  in  a  flood  of  water.  Every 
day  that  I  travel,  I  have  to  swim  through  creeks  or  swamps, 
and  I  am  wet  from  my  head  to  my  feet ;  and  some  days,  from 
morning  till  night,  I  am  dripping  with  water.  I  tie  all  my 
plunder  fast  on  my  horse,  and  take  him  by  the  bridle,  and 
swim  sometimes  a  hundred  yards,  and  sometimes  farther. 
My  horse's  legs  are  now  skinned  and  rough  to  his  hock 
joints,  and  I  have  the  rheumatism  in  all  my  joints.  But  this 
is  nothing. 

"About  eighty  miles  from  here,  I  am  informed,  there  is  a 
considerable  settlement  of  American  people;  but  I  cannot 
get  to  them  at  this  time,  as  the  swamps  are  swimming  for 
miles ;  but  as  soon  as  the  waters  fall,  I  intend  to  visit  them. 
I  have  great  difficulties  in  this  country,  as  there  are  no  laws 
to  suppress  vice  of  any  kind ;  so  that  the  Sabbath  is  spent  in 
frolicking  and  gambling. 

"I  have  now  given  you  a  faint  idea  of  my  travels,  the 
country,  and  the  people.  Let  me  now  tell  you  how  it  is  with 
my  soul.  What  I  have  suffered  in  body  and  mind  my  pen  is 
not  able  to  communicate  to  you.  But  this  I  can  say :  while 
my  body  is  wet  with  water  and  chilled  with  cold,  my  soul  is 
filled  with  heavenly  fire,  and  longs  to  be  with  Christ.  And 
while  these  periods  drop  from  my  pen,  my  soul  is  ready  to 
leave  this  earthly  house,  and  fly  to  endless  rest.  Glory  to 
God  and  the  Lamb  !  I  can  say  that  I  never  enjoyed  such  a 
power  and  heaven  of  love  as  I  have  done  for  a  few  days  past. 
I  have  not  a  wish  but  that  the  will  of  God  may  be  done  in 
me,  through  me,  and  by  me.  And  I  can  now  say  with  St. 
Paul,  that  '  I  count  not  my  life  dear  unto  me,  so  that  I  may 
save  some.'    I  feel  my  soul  all  alive  to  God,  and  filled  with 


200  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

love  to  all  the  human  family.  I  am  now  more  than  one 
thousand  miles  from  you,  and  know  not  that  I  ever  shall  see 
you  again ;  but  I  hope  to  meet  you  one  day  on  the  banks  of 
Canaan,  in  the  land  of  p 

"I  am  your  Buffering  brother  in  the  bonds  of  a  peaceful 
gospel,  Elisha  Bowman. 

My  January  20,  1806. 

"I*.  S.  Pardon  my  scratch,  m  I  have  to  write  on  my  knee, 
and  a  man  is  waiting  at  my  elbow  for  tfrese  Lines.  Pray  for 
me.    I  wrote  to  you,  but  heard  thai  Letter  was  lost. — E.  B." 

Making   allowance    for   dates,    does    n<>t    that    "scratch," 

written  on  the  knee,  read  Like  a  chapter  in  the  Acts  of  the 

Ap  letleel    How  could  such  a  man  mill    Whether  the  two 

dollar-   held  out  or  not,  bo  it  was,  he  staved  two  years,  and 

I  to  Conference  two  circuits  formed.     The  second 

he  was  joined  by  a  true  yokefellow — Thomas  L 

While  these  pioneers  arc  laying  out  circuits,  the  Lord  is 
raising  up  Laborers  to  till  them.  Tin-  parent-  of  Richmond 
Nolley  had  moved  from  Brunswick  County,  Virginia,  where 
he  was  born,  to  ( I  and  soon  after  died. 

The  orphan  was  taken  into  the  care  of  Captain  Lucas,  a 
merchant  of  Sparta,  Georgia,  and  member  of  the  Methodist 
Chureh.  Here  he  found  a  kind  home,  and,  at  a  proper  age, 
was  introduced  into  the  store.    In  this  position,  he  had  the 

companion-hip  of  Trhan  Cooper,  a  fellow-clerk.  At  Smyrna, 
six  or  eight  miles  from  Sparta,  a  camp-meeting  was  held  in 
1800.  An  immense  crowd — estimated  at  ten  thousand — 
attended.  It  was  impossible  for  them  all  to  be  seated  under 
the  arbor;  so  a  strong,  young  preacher  was  detailed  to  an 
opening  near  the  camp-ground,  there  to  preach  to  as  many 
might  gather  around  him.     Loviek  Pierce  stood  upon  a 


RICHMOND    NOLLET.  261 

table,  and  announced  Ms  text:  Komans  vi.  6 — "Knowing 
this,  that  our  old  man  is  crucified  with  him,  that  the  body 
of  sin  might  be  destroyed,  that  henceforth  we  should  not 
serve  sin."  To  get  the  attention  of  his  promiscuous  assem- 
bly, the  preacher  began  with  rather  a  facetious  description  of 
the  "old  man;"  and,  having  attracted  his  hearers,  proceeded 
to  give  a  shocking  account  of  his  conduct,  crimes,  and  excesses. 
He  then  sent  Moses  forth  as  the  high  sheriff  of  the  realm, 
who  arrested  him.  Having  described  his  trial  and  condemna- 
tion, he  sentenced  the  "old  man"  to  be  crucified.  Reared 
upon  the  accursed  tree,  his  crucifixion  was  begun,  when 
suddenly  a  young  lady,  as  if  pierced  by  an  arrow,  ran  weeping 
from  the  outskirts  of  the  audience,  and  falling  near  the  table, 
cried  for  mercy,  and  entreated  the  prayers  of  those  around. 
The  preacher  immediately  stopped  his  sermon,  and  called  for 
mourners.  A  simultaneous  movement  toward  him  followed. 
The  people  fell  upon  their  knees,  and  groans,  and  praise,  and 
prayers  were  mingled.  This  work  continued  during  the 
remainder  of  the  day  and  the  succeeding  night.  Over  one 
hundred  souls  professed  conversion  around  that  table.  The 
young  lady  was  the  daughter  of  Captain  Lucas.  Among  the 
cod  verts  were  the  two  young  clerks. 

An  eye-witness*  describes  the  subsequent  appearance  of 
the  lady  portion  of  the  congregation  as  rather  ludicrous. 
The  soil  was  colored,  and  rain  had  very  lately  fallen.  Kneel- 
ing and  prostration  upon  the  ground  hopelessly  damaged 
hundreds  of  yards  of  silk,  and  fine  clothes  generally. 

Richmond  Kolley  remained  with  his  friend  and  benefactor 
till  the  next  year.  After  essaying  those  lighter  exercises  by 
which  our  Church  discovers  and  cultivates  the  gifts  of  con- 

*  The  venerable  Reddick  Pierce,  brother  of  the  preacher  who  officiated. 


262  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

vert-,  lie  was  received,  December  28,  1807,  into  the  travelling 
connection,  and  seiit  to  Edisto  Circuit,  South  Carolina  Con- 
ference. All  who  remember  him,  Bpeak  of  his  patient  and 
punctual  toil,  and  particularly  of  bis  attention  to  the  children, 
and  the  sick  and  aged.  Here,  doubtless,  he  learned  to  in- 
clude the  slaves,  not  only  in  his  prayers,  hut  his  teachings — 
a  practice  be  kepi  op  everywhere,  ami  that  gave  him  many 
seals  among  these  poor. 

In  1809,  he  was  stationed  in  Wilmington,  North  Carolina. 
Here,  besides  unremitting  attention  to  hifl  duties  in  town,  he 
had  appointments  in  the  country.  One  was  on  the  east  side 
of  Cape  Fear  river,  on  the  Topsail  Bound,  among  the  pilots 

and    fishermen.       His     labors    at    this    out-of-the-way    place, 

directed  by  the  pun  of  souls,  were  greatly  blessed:  a 

powerful    revival   developed    itself  and  a  flourishing  society. 

After  building  ■  church,  it  was  connected  with  the  Wilming- 
ton Station,  hut  subsequently  formed  part  of  the  Topsail 
I         lit. 

Tl.  following,  he  labored   in  Charleston.    His  co- 

laborers  in  the  station,  W.  M.  Kennedy  and  Thomas  Mason, 
were  popular  men  and  preachers.  There  was  a  revival  that 
year.    But  Nolley  was  under  the  weather.     He  had  a  hard 

time  of  it:  he  was  the  butt  of  ti.  utioii   then  dealt  to 

Methodists.  Often  fire-crackers  were  thrown  hack  of  him 
into  the  pulpit,  and  once  while  he  was  at  prayer.  It  is  said 
he  had  a  way  here  of  shutting  his  eyi  9  after  taking  his  text, 
and  keeping  them  closed  to  the  end  of  his  sermon. 

A  field  awaited  him  where  tilings  had  to  bo  looked  in  the 

.   While  Nolley  was  taking  his  first  Lessons  on  the  Edisto 

and  among  the  sailors  of  Topsail  Sound,  James  Alley  was 

on  the  Opelousas  Circuit.     He  was  a  character — one  of  the 

representative  men.     Ahle  to  make  his  mark  anywhere,  even 


RICHMOND    NOLLET.  263 

Axley  found  all  his  powers  of  physical  endurance,  his  ready 
perception,  strong  common  sense,  and  zeal,  tasked  in  the 
work.  Some  of  the  scenes  passed  through  were  vividly  nar- 
rated by  himself  near  the  close  of  his  life. 

One  evening,  after  riding  all  day  without  any  dinner,  he 
called  at  a  house  where  the  family  consisted  of  a  widow  lady, 
a  grown-up  daughter,  a  number  of  children,  and  some  ser- 
vants, none  of  whom  were  religious.  The  lady  and  her  family 
regretted  his  coming,  and  would  not  grant  his  request  to 
remain  over  night.  JSTo,  he  could  not  stay :  they  would  have 
no  such  cattle  about  them.  But  he  was  loth  to  leave :  the 
reason  was,  he  knew,  if  defeated  in  obtaining  lodging  there, 
nothing  remained  for  him  but  a  berth  in  the  dark  wood, 
without  food  or  shelter,  in  an  inclement  season  of  the  year. 
As  he  lingered  a  little  to  warm  himself,  and  consider  how  he 
should  manage  to  pass  that  dreary  night,  the  thought  of  his 
forlorn  condition  as  a  homeless  stranger,  without  money  or 
friends,  came  like  a  dark  cloud  over  his  mind.  His  deep, 
sad  cogitations  proceeded  in  silence.  Then,  as  was  natural 
in  the  extremity,  he  turned  his  thoughts  toward  his  Heavenly 
Father's  house  above,  wherehe  hoped  some  day  to  find  a  home 
free  from  the  ills  of  mortal  life.  Being  a  little  cheered  with 
the  prospect,  without  leave,  introduction,  or  ceremony,  he 
began  to  sing  one  of  the  songs  of  Zion  in  a  strange  land : 

"  Peace,  troubled  soul,  thou  need'st  not  fear, 
Thy  great  Provider  still  is  near." 

As  he  proceeded,  his  depressed  feelings  became  elevated : 
the  vision  of  faith  ranged  above  and  beyond  the  desolate 
wilderness  he  had  just  been  contemplating  as  the  place  of 
his  night's  sojourn.  The  family  were  soon  all  melted  into 
tears :  the  lady  called  a  servant,  and  ordered  him  to  put  the 


264  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

gentleman's  horse  into  the  stable ;  and  the  (laughter  added, 
"Be  sure  you  feed  him  well." 

In  1812,  four  young  men  on  horseback  are  on  the  road  to 
the  West  They  travel  cheerfully  on.  No  land  speculation 
nor  greed  of  gain  —  no  vision  of  worldly  fame  —  is  before 
their  eyes.  Behind,  are  homes,  parents,  brothers,  sisters, 
friends  :  before,  strangers,  wanderings,  wide  circuits,  appoint- 
ments unknown  till  announced,  and  DO  salaries  —  only  a 
subsistence.  They  are  missionaries  from  the  South  Carolina 
Conference  to  Mississippi  and  Louisiana.  The  Episcopacy 
sees  the  want,  and  calls  for  volunteers:  the  itinerancy,  in 
genuine  vitality,  pulsates,  and  lift  ie  thrown  from  the  heart 
to  the  extremities.  The  missionaries  are  Thomas  Griffin, 
Lewi-  Qobbs,  Drnry  Powell,  and  Richmond  Nblley. 

.Arriving  at  Afilledgeville,  Georgia,  it  is  necessary  to  get 
passports  from  the  Governor  to  go  through  the  Indian  Nations. 
Th-'  [ndians  having  been  tampered  with  and  wronged  by 
evil  men,  it  is  difficult  to  keep  them  at  peace.  The  mission- 
aries represenl  to  his  Excellency  what  Bort  of  men  they  arc 
He  is  satisfied:  their  papers  are  made  out,  signed,  and 
given  them,  and  they,  with  a  how,  are  retiring.  "Stop, 
brethren,"  saya  Nblley;  "the  Governor  has  given  us  pass- 
ports through  the  Indian  Nations.  Let  us  now  ask  God  to 
give  him  a  passport  from  this  world  to  a  better."  The  Gov- 
ernor ami  1  -  fcary  were  railed  to  their  knees,  and  they 
prayed  there. 

Passing  through  a  wilderness  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
miles,  swimming  deep  ereeks,  and  lying  out  eleven  nights, 
Nolley  arrived  at  his  appointment  —  the  Toinbigbee  Mis- 
sion. 

How  beautiful  that  band  of  young  men,  going  to  cultivate 
Immanuel's  lands!     It  would  be  interesting   to   follow  out 


RICHMOND    NOLLEY.  265 

their  histories.  Hobbs  was  a  lovely  spirit.  He  was  called 
the  "weeping  prophet."  He  shed  tears  over  sinners  while 
he  warned  them.  A  year  or  two  afterwards  he  was  stationed 
in  ISTew  Orleans,  where  his  last  strength  was  spent.  He  sank 
into  consumption,  and  barely  got  back  home  to  die. 

Their  appointments  scattered  them  widely.  Griffin's  was 
on  the  Ouachita.  He  proved  a  chosen  vessel  of  the  Lord. 
Few  have  been  so  honored  in  planting  Methodism  in  the 
South-west.  He  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  his  memory 
is  blessed  by  thousands.  "While  Nolley  persuaded  sinners, 
and  Hobbs  wept  over  them,  Griffin  made  thern  quail  and 
shrink,  and  hide  their  faces  in  fear  and  shame.  There  was  a 
clear,  metallic  ring  in  his  nature.  "Without  the  advantages" 
of  fortune  or  education,  he  made  his  way  by  stronger  forces. 
By  the  camp-fire,  on  the  forest-path,  he  studied.  One  of  the 
saddlebags-men — to  whom  Western  civilization  is  more  in- 
debted than  to  any  other  class  of  agents — he  mastered  the 
hardy  elements  of  frontier  life :  sagacious  in  judgment,  de- 
cisive in  action,  strong  in  speech,  generous-hearted.  He 
was  a  delegate  from  Mississippi  to  the  General  Conference 
of  1826.  The  agitation  which  has  since  rent  the  Church, 
was  already  begun.  His  practical  eye  detected  the  issue. 
The  speeches  of  Northern  delegates  assumed  the  sinfulness 
of  slavery  as  a  foregone  conclusion.  Their  epithets,  applied 
to  slaveholders,  were  by  no  means  to  his  taste.  Those  of 
Southern  delegates  pleased  him  little  better.  Their  tone  was 
excusatory  rather  than  defensive.  To  use  his  own  expression, 
"They  were  too  much  like  suppliants  to  suit  my  feelings." 
He  made  an  off-hand  speech,  which,  whatever  else  it  lacked, 
was  not  lacking  in  point  or  energy  of  expression.  "It 
appears,"  said  he,  "that  some  of  our  Northern  brethren  are 
willing  to  see  us  all  damned  and  double-damned,  rammed, 


266  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

crummed,  and  jammed  into  a  forty-six  pounder,  and  touched 
off  into  eternity !" 

Two  year.-  Xolley  spent  on  the  Tombighee  Mission,  cover- 
ing ground  now  divided  into  Circuits  and  Districts.     They 
were  years  of  peril  as  well  as  toil.     lie  stopped  not  for  wet 
or  cold.     If  his  horse  was  out  of  the  way,  he  took  his  saddle- 
-   on  his  shoulder,   and  walked,   railing    and  praying  at 

every  Louse  in  his  way  where  ho  could  obtain  permission. 
Sometimes,  in  this,  he  met  rude  repulses.  He  not  only 
preached,  hut  catechized  the  children.  His  diligent  in- 
struction of  children,  in  every  place,  was  not  only  commend- 
able,  bnt characteristic.  He  waa  in  advance,  on  that  subject, 
of  this  generation,  with  its  Sunday-school  statistics, 
and  papers,  and  organizations.  To  Peter  James,  the  preacher 
who  BUCCeeded  him  on  the  Tombighee,  he  gave  a  list 
of  the  children,  by  name,  under  instruction  and  pastoral 
care.    His  parting  charg  oh  turned  away  to  his  new 

Circuit,  was,  "Now,  Brother  .lames,  bo  sure  to  look  after 
children."    The  blacks  were  not  forgotten,    lie  in- 
structed them  also  in  the  things  of  God. 

The  Indians  broke  out  into  hostilities,  and  the  people, 
deserting  their  homes  and  plantations,  took  to  forts.  Nolley 
never  stopped,  but  rather  made  use  of  these  forted  gatherings 
for  preaching  the  word.  From  fort  to  fort  the  pale  messen- 
ger of  pea< ■•  1,  comforting,  encouraging,  instructing 
the  people.  Whether  fortunately  preserved,  from  collision 
with  the  savages,  or  whether  they  were  restrained  by  the 
Divine  interdict,  "Touch  not  mine  anointed,  and  do  my 
prophets  no  harm,"  so  it  was,  no  harm  befell  him  ;  and  when 
the  forts  were  abandoned,  the  pastor  had  been  endeared  to 
all  lnarts;  and,  what  was  of  more  concern  to  him,  the  gospel 
had  sounded  abroad  through  all  that  country.     On  this  Mis- 


RICHMOND    NOLLEY.  267 

sion  occurred  the  original  of  what  is  now  told,  with  some 
variety  of  place  and  circumstance.  The  informant  (Thomas 
Clinton)  subsequently  labored  in  that  region,  and,  though  a 
generation  has  passed,  he  is  not  forgotten  there.  In  making 
the  rounds  of  his  work,  Nolley  came  upon  a  fresh  wagon- 
track.  On  the  search  for  any  thing  that  had  a  soul,  he  fol- 
lowed it,  and  came  upon  the  emigrant  family  just  as  it  had 
pitched  on  the  ground  of  the  future  home.  The  man  was 
unlimbering  his  team,  and  the  wife  was  busy  around  the  fire. 
•"What!"  exclaimed  the  settler,  upon  hearing  the  salutation 
of  the  visitor,  and  taking  a  glance  at  his  unmistakable  ap- 
pearance, "  have  you  found  me  already  ?  Another  Methodist 
preacher!  I  quit  Virginia  to  get  out  of  reach  of  them: 
went  to  a  new  settlement  in  Georgia,  and  thought  to  have  a 
long  whet,  but  they  got  my  wife  and  daughter  into  the 
Church.  Then,  in  this  late  purchase — Choctaw  Corner — I 
found  a  piece  of  good  land,  and  was  sure  I  would  have  some 
peace  of  the  preachers ;  and  here  is  one  before  my  wagon  is 
unloaded." 

IsTolley  gave  him  small  comfort.  "  My  friend,  if  you  go  to 
heaven,  you  '11  find  Methodist  preachers  there ;  and  if  to  hell, 
I  am  afraid  you  '11  find  some  there ;  and  you  see  how  it  is  in 
this  world.  So  you  had  better  make  terms  with  us,  and  be 
at  peace." 

He  was  appointed  to  Attakapas  and  Opelousas  in  1814. 
There  are  now'aged  Christians  who  retain  an  affectionate 
remembrance  of  him.  In  1810,  one*  went  to  reside  on  the 
Bayou  Teche,f  seven  miles  from  the  present  town  of  Frank- 
lin. Her  house  was  what  is  so  often  gratefully  mentioned  by 
them  in  obituaries — the  preachers'   home.      Often  ISTolley 

*  Martha  Skinner.  f  The  O'Tash  mentioned  in  Mr.  Bowman's  letter. 


2G8  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

rested  there,  saying,  as  lie  crossed  the  threshold,  "Peace  be 
on  this  house."  The  word  of  the  Lord  was  precious  in  those 
days.  Deprived  of  religious  privileges,  this  lady  often  Bat, 
of  evenings,  on  the  hanks  of  the  Teche,  hoping  to  hear 
among  the  songs  of  boatmen  a  Methodist  song,  or  something 
like  one. 

The   house  of  a  pious  old  Dutchman  was   used,  in  that 
hborhood,  for  a  preaching  place.     Hargreider  was  B 

Met!    idist.       Messed    be    the    Iblteh!      In   the    history  of  OUT 

straggling  Church,  how  often  the  ark  has  rested  in  the  lowly 

habitation  of  some  Dutchman  with  ■  hard  name,  and  steady 
as  a  mud-sill.  Somebody  has  remarked  that,  of  all  people  in 
the  world,  when  once  converted,  a  Dutchman  and  a  Guinea 
negro  Btand  the  fast 

A  memorable  love-feasl  was  held  in  the  spring  of  1815,  at 
Hargreider'e — memorable  to  Bister  B.  Her  cup  was  full  and 
ran  over,  and  we  see  Nblley  in  one  of  his  old  ways,  left  off 
since  leaving  Charleston,  sin-  had  come  nine  miles,  in  a 
.  and  si—  r  Rice  had  come  twenty,  by  land,  to  that 
meeting.  They  sal  under  a  live-oak  tree,  talking  about  the 
goodness  of  God  t<>  their  souls,  the  love  of  Jesus,  and  the 
consolations  of  the  Spirit.  One  of  the  two  was  sorrowful — 
the  othei  ■  bo  outran  her-!    r.nt  the  fields  began  to 

look  greener,  and  all  nature  gladder,  as  they  communed. 
Tin'  peaee  that  passeth  understanding  flowed  into  and  over- 
flowed the  sonl,  rising  to  the  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of 
glory.  "  0,  Sister  R.,  I  am  so  happy!"  The  meeting  had 
in,  and  the  happy  one,  so  late  cast  down,  got  happier  as 
entered  the  Dutch  chapel,  and  went  all  round,  shaking 
hands  and  praising  the  Lord.  After  the  lapse  of  forty  years, 
she  recollects  only  one  object  distinctly  seen  in  the  congre- 
gation, and  that  was  "dear  Brother  Nblley."    There  he  sat, 


RICHMOND    NOLLEY.  269 

in  the  place  where  the  pulpit  might  be,  leaning  back  with  a 
"saint-like  smile,"  those  eyes  shut,  and  the  tears  streaming 
down  his  face. 

The  boy  who  rowed  her  to  meeting  had  a  wonderful  tale 
to  tell  the  folks  at  home :  how  he  saw  Miss  Peggy  dancing 
in  the  meeting ! 

"And  how  should  you  know  so  much,  when  the  doors  were 
closed?" 

"Why,"  said  he,  naively,  "Brother  Volley,  he  come  out, 
and  talked  a  heap  of  good  talk  to  me,  and  told  me  to  go  in." 

Poor  Hannibal,  six  years  after,  was  swept  away  by  an  inun- 
dation, and  quickly  lost ;  but  he  had  had,  at  least,  "  one  good 
talk"  from  him  who  thought  it  always  in  order  to  save  a  soul. 

Sister  Rice  had  been  brought  up  with  a  prejudice  against 
Methodists  and  a  "feeling  religion;"  but  had  given  in  to 
both,  a  few  years  before,  while  hearing  the  Presiding  Elder, 
Sellers,  sing: 

"When  I  was  sinking  down, 
Christ  laid  aside  his  crown, 
For  my  soul." 

In  this  winning,  melting  art  of  devotion,  Methodist  preach- 
ers were  once  more  powerful  than  now.  Persons  going  to 
hear  them,  went  without  a  stereotyped  programme : 

"Perhaps  it  might  turn  out  a  sang; 
Perhaps  turn  out  a  sermon." 

It  was  pretty  certain  to  turn  out  both ;  and  not  unfrequently 
the  song  did  an  execution  of  which  the  sermon  failed. 

After  the  death  of  the  preacher,  these  two  sisters  met  again 
and  talked  about  him,  and  wept.  One  said,  "  It  may  not  be 
right,  but  somehow,  whenever  I  do  wrong,  I  feel  as  if  Brother 


270  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Nollcy  looked  down  reproachfully  on  me."  "I  feel  so,  too," 
was  tlie  reply. 

Once,  at  St.  Martinsville,  Nblley  was  preaching  in  the 
Court-house,  and  some  lewd  fellows  of  the  baser  sort  took 
him  forcibly  from  the  stand,  and  were  on  their  way  to  the 
hay-iii,  to  duck  him.  A  singular  deliverer  was  provided:  a 
negro  woman,  armed  with  a  hoe,  rescued  him  out  of  their 
hands,  took  the  exhausted  preacher  in  her  arms  back  to  the 
house,  and  put  him  in  the  stand:  **  There  HOW,  preach." 
Oner,  a  Bugar-planter  (it  is  spoken  of  to  this  day)  drove  him 
uw;iy  from  his  imoke-stack,  where  he  craved  to  warm  him- 
self. 

His  punctuality,  whether  to  vial  or  preach  by  appointment, 
was  proverbial.  On  one  of  the  rounds  of  his  four-hundred- 
mile  Circuit,  he  called  at  the  house  of  a  friendly  family,  Mr. 
II.,  waked  them  up,  and  inquired  after  their  welfare. 
"Wouldn't  he  stay  all  night?"  No:  he  had  promised  to 
stay  with  a  family  two  miles  farther  on.  And  on  he  went. 
The   man  who  had   no  wife   and   children,  and  but    few  and 

distant  kindred,  yet  had  a  loving  heart    What  might  not 

happen  to  the  households  he  visited,  preached  to,  and 
prayed  for,  in  his  long  absences?  Sin,  sickness,  death  were 
abroad,  and  he  had  often  seen  sudden  and  sad  changes 
wrought  by  them.  Trilling  as  the  circumstance  may  seem, 
it  gives  an  insighl  of  character.  It  is  no  trifle  for  a  family  to 
have  an  interest  in  such  a  pastor's  pnryers. 

lie  was  preaching  in  the  town  of  Opelousas,  and  Judge 
Lewis  and  family  were  present.  Service  over,  Judge  L.* 
invited  the  preacher  home  with  him.  He  had  engaged  to 
go   elsewhere   that  day,    and   declined,   but  accepted  their 

*  Scth  Lewis,  for  twenty-seven  years  one  of  the  Judges  of  Louisiana. 


RICHMOND    NOLLET.  271 

invitation  to  spend  the  night  at  their  house  when  next  he 
came  round. 

Time  rolled  on.  The  Saturday  evening  arrived.  Judge 
L.  was  from  home.  A  large  and  gay  dancing  party  had 
assembled.  The  fashionables  of  old  Opelousas  were  out  in 
their  best  style,  and  fiddling  and  dancing  were  going  on 
merrily.  About  sunset,  a  servant  ran  into  the  house,  in 
greatest  excitement,  and  whispered  to  Mrs.  Lewis,  "  The 
'preacher!  the  preacher's  come!"  Mrs  L.  recollected  the 
invitation ! 

Those  who  are  skilful  in  getting  up  agreeable  company, 
have  an  eye  to  differences  in  taste,  habits,  and  capacities. 
Persons  of  the  same  profession  and  way  of  thinking  are  not 
likely  to  entertain  each  other  with  various  conversation. 
But  there  is  a  limit  to  differences,  and  here  it  was.  Nolley 
had  been  invited  in  his  character  as  Methodist  preacher,  and 
in  that  character  he  had  come.  He  was  not  the  man  to  drop 
it,  and,  chameleon-like,  to  take  his  color  from  the  crowd. 
There  he  stood,  full  six  feet  high,  lean  and  pale  with  fasts 
and  vigils,  his  looks  a  very  rebuke  to  "all  vain  and  worldly 
amusements."  The  broad-brim  hat  and  shad-belly  coat! 
think  of  them,  in  contrast  with  the  big  collars  and  swallow- 
tails that  adorned  the  dancing  gentlemen  of  that  day.  Think 
of  that  solitary  figure  in  the  background  of  all  this  finery, 
fashion,  and  frivolity.  Out  of  his  deep-set,  black  eyes  he 
looked  kindly  but  not  approvingly  on  the  scene.  Perhaps, 
for  a  moment,  he  closed  those  eyes.  Mrs.  Lewis  introduced 
him  formally  to  the  company. 

Here  was  a  fix.  Two  sorts  of  company — both  specially 
invited.  But  a  well-bred  and  spirited  woman  is  equal  to  the 
emergency.  Mrs.  L.  had  never  read  the  Discipline ;  but  she 
had  been  brought  up  in  Virginia,  and  knew  that  Methodist 


272  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

preachers  set  their  feces  against  dancing.  She  ordered  the 
6able  and  jolly  fiddler  to  clear  out,  and  not  to  let  his  fiddle 
be  heard  again.  Dancing  being  mildly  but  firmly  interdicted, 
the  company  Bet  about  playing  at  cross-questions,  pawns,  etc., 
and  politely  invited  the  preacher  to  join,  which  he  as  politely 
declined.  Mr.-.  L.  charged  herself  especially  with  his  enter- 
tainment. Pulling  out  his  watch,  "My  friends,  it  is  now  ten 
o'clock.  You  invited  me  to  join  you:  I  invite  you  to  join 
me.  Let  us  have  prayers."  Prayers  were  had,  not  omitting 
(he  hymn,  and  the  company  dispersed.  At  the  mention  of 
prayers,  there  was  a  murmur  of  dissent  from  some.  A  dis- 
tinguished lawyer  Bpoke  Out,  "It  will  never  do  to  let  that 
man  pray  here."  But  Mr-.  L.  put  an  end  to  debate  by  order- 
ing the  candle-etand  and  Bible. 

Th<'  next  preacher  that  followed  Xolley  took  Judge  Lewis 
and  his  wife  into  the  Church.  Tiny  were,  in  piety  and  in- 
fluence, its  ornaments  and  pillars.  They  have  rejoined  their 
guest  of  that  evening  in  the  spirit-land,  and  their  sons  and 
daughters  do  follow  in  their  footsteps. 

Nolley  went  up  to  Conference  with  a  good  report.  The 
Minutes  show  an  increase  of  the  membership  by  one-third. 
One  person  at  Least  18  now  living  (there  may  be  others)  who 
Was  converted  and  received  into  the  Church  under  his  minis- 
try. The  Bower's  diligence  Lb  witnessed  by  even  a  solitary 
stalk  standing  after  a  generation  of  time's  reaping. 

It  was  thought  the  interests  of  the  Church  required  his 
return.  News  travelled  slow  at  that  time,  even  bad  news. 
The  faithful  looked  for  the  preacher  that  was  to  be  sent  them 
by  Conference.  He  came  not.  And  then  the  report  reached 
them  that  their  last  year's  preacher  had  been  sent  back,  and, 
on  his  way  from  Conference  to  the  Circuit,  perished. 

Accompanied  by  his  Presiding  Elder,  Thomas  Griffin,  he 


RICHMOND    NOLLEY,  273 

crossed  the  Mississippi  swamp  and  the  Ouachita.  The 
weather  was  wet  and  cold.  It  was  the  24th  of  November, 
1815.  They  were  passing  up  the  country  to  avoid  Hemphill 
Creek,  a  fitful  and  dangerous  stream.  This  would  make  the 
journey  several  days  longer.  Nolley,  anxious  to  reach  his 
work,  resolved  to  push  straight  through;  so  they  parted. 
There  was  no  white  person  living  on  his  path.  In  the  even- 
ing, he  came  to  a  village  of  Indians,  near  the  creek,  and, 
procuring  a  guide,  proceeded  to  the  ford,  and  found  the 
stream  swollen,  as  he  feared.  Leaving  behind  his  valise, 
saddlebags,  and  a  parcel  of  books,  he  attempted  to  ride  it. 
The  current  bore  his  horse  down :  the  banks  were  steep,  and 
he  could  not  get  out.  In  the  struggle,  he  and  his  horse 
parted.  He  got  hold  of  a  bush,  and  pulled  himself  out. 
His  horse  swam  back  to  the  shore  from  which  they  started. 
Directing  the  Indian  to  keep  his  horse  till  morning,  he  started 
for  the  nearest  habitation,  about  two  miles  distant. 

He  had  gone  but  a  little  way,  when  the  angels  met  him. 
With  sweet  surprise,  Kolley  found  himself  in  the  land  of 
Beulah,  though  in  a  dreary  swamp  of  Louisiana.  Beholding 
the  "  shining  ones,"  he  doubtless  exclaimed  with  him  of  old, 
"This  is  God's  host." 

Fancy  must  supply  what  history  fails  to  record,  for  there 
were  none  present  save  those  from  the  sky.  It  was  Friday, 
his  fast-day.  Chilled  and  exhausted — the  cold  and  darkness 
every  moment  becoming  intenser — he  sank  down  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  ford.  He  seemed  conscious  of  his 
approaching  end.  His  knees  were  muddy,  and  the  prints  of 
them  were  in  the  ground,  showing  what  his  last  exercise  had 
been.  Having  commended  his  soul  to  God,  with  what  sense 
of  the  nearness  of  heaven  it  may  be  supposed,  he  laid  him 
down  at  the  roots  of  a  clump  of  pines.  The  itinerant  preacher 
18 


274  BIOGKAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

received  his  discharge.  There  lay  our  beloved  Xolley,  on  the 
cold  ground  and  wet  haves,  at  full  length,  his  eyes  neatly 
1.  his  left  hand  on  his  breast,  and  his  right  a  little 
fallen  off. 

I;  •  if  sweet  to  the  weary.  The  solitary  spot,  the  gloomy 
surroundings,  were  not  incompatible  with  finishing  his  course 
with  joy.  Unlike  Elijah,  it  was  not  his  to  divide  the  waters  j 
but  the  chariot  and  horses  of  fire  wire  doubtletfl  ready  for 
him.    Hail,  happy  spirit,  hail] 

A  traveller  next  day,  about  four  o'clock,  found  the  corpse. 
The  neighbors  collected,  and  bore  the  frozen  form  to  the 
house  where  it  was  supposed  he  aimed  to  go,    A  widow  and 

l^r   daughters   made   the   shroud,    and    on    Sabbath    he  was 

buried.    Tl.  where  he  was  buried   is  in  Catahoula 

Parish,  near  the  road  Leading  from  Alexandria  t<>  Harrison- 

_.  and  about  twenty  miles  from  the  latter  place.    Xo 

monument   of  any   kind    marks   it.     The   locality,    long   in 

doubt,  ha-  been  recently  identified;  persons  who  assisted  at 

the  burial  being  present.    The  Louisiana  Conference,  at  its 

don  in  Franklin,  1855,  resolved  to  ereel  a  plain  and  Bub- 

•ial  monument  over  this  grave  and  others  of  ministers 
who  have  been  buried  in  the  bottoms  of  the  Mississippi, 
along  the  bayous,  and  in  the  interior,  but 

'•  Whose  ashes  lie 
No  marble  tells  us  where." 

On  the  10th  of  May,  1856,  three  members  of  the  Confer- 
ence, in  pursuance  of  this  design,  sought  out  the  long- 
neglected  and  almost-forgotten  spot,  marked  it,  and,  kneeling 
ti,  consecrated  themselves  afresh  to  the  same  ministry 
of  faith,  and  patience,  and  love.  These  forty  years  the  recol- 
lection of  Nolley  has  quickened  the  zeal  of  his  brethren. 


RICHMOND    NOLLEY.  275 

From  that  mound  of  earth,  in  the  fenceless  old  field,  a  voice 
has  spoken,  "Be  faithful."  In  the  minds  of  the  people,  the 
effect  was  profound  and  conciliating. 

Richmond  Nolley  was  only  thirty  years  old  at  his  death. 
He  was  never  married.  His  parents  were  Methodists,  and 
his  associations  fortunate  for  his  moral  character.  One  re- 
marked to  him  pleasantly,  "  Nolley,  you  do  not  know  how  to 
preach  to  sinners :  you  can't  track  them  out  by  experience, 
like  me."  He  kept  his  body  under,  perhaps  to  excess;  not 
allowing  it  sufficient  rest  and  food  for  the  best  working  con- 
ditions. Every  morning  he  was  up  at  four  o'clock — at  prayer, 
at  reading,  at  work.  His  emaciated  frame  offered  excuses 
for  relaxation,  which  he  refused  to  accept.  A  sister  said, 
"Your  health  must  be  very  bad."  "It  is  natural  for  me  to 
look  so,"  he  replied;  "on  the  contrary,  I  have  the  best  of 
health."  The  directions  laid  down  in  the  Discipline  for  a 
preacher,  he  followed  literally.  His  manner  seemed  to  say, 
"The  Lord  is  at  hand,"  "the  Judge  standeth  at  the  door." 
Constitutional  feebleness  was  upborne  by  a  heavenly  zeal. 
His  temperament  called  for  those  occasional  depressions  and 
heart-sinkings  in  which  the  Christian  puts  to  the  proof  that 
text,  "  My  heart  and  my  flesh  faileth,  but  God  is  the  strength 
of  my  heart." 

It  is  not  claimed  that  he  was  strong,  or  learned,  or  elo- 
quent. He  was  not.  In  the  intellectual  scale,  barely  medio- 
cre :  in  letters,  knowing  enough  to  prosecute  such  researches 
as  he  had  time  and  use  for:  in  utterance,  not  gifted.  To 
claim  more,  either  for  the  truth  of  this  sketch  or  to  make  out 
a  case,  is  not  necessary.  Moral  power  is  not  in  proportion  to 
mental  vigor.  Its  elements  lie  above  and  beyond.  "What 
avails  the  clear  and  cold  statement  of  truth — even  Divine 
truth — if  it  touch  not  the  heart  nor  move  the  man  ?    It  is 


■2~>'j  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

the  evident  sincerity,  the  home  appeal,  the  word  commended 
to  the  conscience  of  the  hearer,  the  peroration  all  quivering 
with  feeling,  the  .  thai  constitutes  the  preaeher'e  power. 

The  soldier  may  have  wisdom,  but  if  he  lack  courage,  he  is 
totally  out  of  character.   Neither  can  the  counsellor's  com 
stand  him  in  place  of  wisdom.    Whatever  the  preacher  may 
or  may  not  be,  without  this  one  quality  of  moral  power,  he  is 
nothing.    This  had  Nblley. 

lie  had  fellowship  with  his  Master  in  sufferings.  Without 
seeking  them,  without  deserving  them,  we  see  how  they 
I  him  in  a  natural  way,  or  sprung  more  fiercely  out  of  the 
antagonism  between  the  carnal  and  spiritual.  Our  Lord 
want-  a  suffering  mini-try.  Not  only  is  the  fellowship  with 
Him  more  intimate,  but  nothing  wed.-  a  good  man  to  a  good 
raftering  for  it. 

Sufferi  d  out  hirelings  from  the  ministry.    They 

shut  up  the  true  and  faithful  to  the  only  alternative — success. 

Where  the  position  is  easy,  and  the  salary  good,  and  the 
popular,  th<-  minister  may  descend  to  a  profes- 
sional view  of  his  office.  It  makes  him  a  living;  it  gives  him 
ion.  What  if  souls  are  not  converted,  or  the  spiritual 
body  of  Christ  is  not  edified?  human  nature  still  lias  reason 
for  contentment.  Blow-going  theories  of  salvation  arc  apt  to 
he  adopted,  and  formalism  proffers  it-  decent  pall. 

Not  so  with  him  who,  if  he  get  not  souls  for  his  hire,  gets 
nothing.  If  his  portion  be  in  this  life,  the  suffering  minister 
is,  of  all  men,  most  miserable.  With  Btrong  cries  and  I 
he  calls  for  souls,  souls,  souls.  Be  has  no  pleasure,  if  the 
pleasure  of  the  Lord  do  not  prosper  in  his  hand.  Nothing 
ratisfies  him  but  awakenings,  conversions.  Nothing  sustains 
him  but  success.  lie  must  have  seals  to  his  mini-try.  While 
warning  others  against  procrastination,  he  does  not  pitch  for- 


RICHMOND    NOLLET.  277 

ward  the  fruits  of  his  labor  to  some  indefinite  future.  The 
now  presses  him,  with  its  straits  and  self-denial  for  the  gos- 
pel's sake,  and  he  presses  it  upon  others.  His  heart  yearns  : 
his  soul  travails.  Such  a  ministry  will  not  handle  the  word 
of  God  daintily  or  deceitfully,  but  earnestly,  mightily. 

Of  this  sort  was  Richmond  Nolley.  At  no  time  from  the 
day  he  threw  his  saddlebags  across  his  arm  and  started  for 
Edisto  Circuit  till  that  chill  November  evening  when,  after 
prayer,  he  lay  down  in  the  woods  of  Catahoula  to  die,  could 
he  have  afforded  to  preach  a  pointless  sermon,  or  exercise  a 
fruitless  ministry.  Did  he  cross  from  Wilmington  to  Top- 
sail Sound  to  chop  logic  with  the  fishermen  and  pilots  ?  Did 
he  take  his  life  in  his  hand  on  the  Tombigbee  Mission  and 
go  from  fort  to  fort  to  discourse  learnedly  on  foreknowledge 
and  freewill  ?  Did  he  traverse  the  swamps  and  prairies  of 
Louisiana,  enduring  hardness  and  buffeted  by  evil  men,  in 
order  to  make  a  display  before  the  congregations  he  gath- 
ered ?  Did  he  visit  families  on  his  weary  rounds  merely  to 
partake  of  their  hospitable  cheer,  and  show  himself  an  enter- 
taining gentleman  ?  No,  no  !  This  would  have  been  a  los- 
ing business.  He  could  not  afford  it.  His  call  from  above, 
his  convictions  of  duty,  his  self-consecration,  could  not  be 
met  by  soft  beds,  fine  dinners,  agreeable  company,  and  flat- 
tering commendations  of  his  pulpit  speeches.  He  was  in 
earnest  and  on  higher  aims  intent.  The  burden  of  the  Lord 
was  upon  him.  He  struck  for  the  weight  of  glory  and  the 
exceeding  great  reward. 

Christian  brother,  suffering  minister,  we  have  entered  into 
the  labors  of  such  men.  Think  on  that  lowly  grave  and 
him  that  sleeps  there ;  his  toil  and  his  crown.  Revive,  and 
stand  upon  thy  feet ! 


■2~*  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


II  I  N  1  S  T  I  B  I  A  L    ZEAL. 

BY    CUABLES    WESLEY. 

rnc  the  faith  which  can  remove 
AnJ  sink  the  mountain  to  a  plain, 
Give  me  the  childlike,  praying  love 

That  longs  to  build  thy  house  again, — 
The  love  which  once  my  heart  o'erpowered, 
AnJ  all  my  simple  soul  devoured. 

I  want  an  even,  strong  desire, 

I  want  a  calmly  fervent  zeal, 
To  save  poor  souls  out  of  the  fire, 

To  snatch  them  from  the  verge  of  hell, 
And  turn  them  tfl  tin-  pardoning  God, 
Anl  i|ucnch  the  brands  in  Jesus'  blood. 

I  would  the  precious  time  redeem, 

longer  live  for  this  alone, 
To  spend,  and  to  be  spent,  for  them 

have  not  yet  my  Saviour  known; 
Fully  on  these  my  mindon  prove, 
And  only  breathe  to  breathe  thy  love. 

Enlarge,  inflame,  and  fill  my  heart 
With  boundless  charity  Divine  ; 

So  shall  I  all  my  strength  exert, 

And  love  them  with  a  zeal  like  mine, 

And  lead  them  to  thine  open  side, 

The  sheep  for  whom  their  Shepherd  died. 

Or  if,  to  serve  thy  Church  and  thee, 

Myself  be  offered  up  at  last, 
My  soul,  brought  through  the  purple  sea 

With  those  beneath  the  altar  cost, 
Shall  claim  the  palm  to  martyrs  given, 
And  mount  the  highest  throne  in  heaven. 


JOHN    SLADE.  279 


JOHN    SLADE. 

BY    THE    REV.    PEYTON    P.    SMITH. 

John  Slade  was  born  on  Beech  Branch,  Beaufort  District, 
South  Carolina,  April  7th,  1790. 

"When  about  thirty  years  of  age,  he  embraced  religion, 
and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  Camden 
County,  Georgia.  He  attributed  his  conversion  mainly  to 
the  instrumentality  of  his  pious  grandmother,  Mrs.  Prevatt, 
who  had  been  accustomed,  while  he  was  yet  young,  to  lead 
him  with  her  into  the  closet  and  secret  grove,  and  there  in- 
struct, and  pray  with  and  for  him.  These  instructions  and 
prayers  followed  him,  along  the  slippery  paths  of  youth,  up 
to  manhood,  and  resulted  in  bringing  him  to  the  foot  of  the 
cross,  where  he  was  soundly  and  thoroughly  converted.  To 
the  end  of  his  eventful  life,  he  never  doubted  the  reality  of 
his  conversion. 

Soon  after  he  joined  the  Church,  he  evinced  such  gifts  and 
graces  as  induced  the  Church  to  give  him  license  to  exhort. 
In  the  year  1822,  he  commenced  his  labors  with  the  Eev. 
John  J.  Triggs,  who  had  been  appointed  to  the  "  Early  Mis- 
sion and  adjacent  settlements."  His  success  soon  justified 
the  Church  in  giving  him  license  to  preach,  and  a  recom- 
mendation to  the  travelling  connection. 


280  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Iii  1823,  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  South  Carolina 
Conference,  and  appointed  junior  preacher  (J.  J.  Triggs  in 
charge)  on  the  Chattahoochee  Mission,  embracing  a  large 
field  in  South-western  Georgia  and  a  portion  of  Alabama. 

In  ls24,  he  was  appointed  in  charge  of  the  Early  Mission, 
embracing  in  part  the  ground  occupied  the  previous  year, 
considerable  territory  in  Florida. 

In  1  ■*_•">.  he  was  admitted  to  full  connection  in  the  South 
Carolina  Conference,  ordained  a  deacon  by  Bishop  Roberts, 
and  appointed  in  charge  of  the  Appling  Circuit,  in  South- 
eastern Georgia.  On  the  31st  of  July  of  this  year  he  was 
married. 

In  1826,  he  travelled  the  Tallahasa  e  Mission,  embracing  a 
portion  of  Southern  Georgia,  and  a  large  territory  of  wilder- 
country  in  Florida. 

In  1^-7,  he  was  appointed  in  charge  of  Ohoopee  Cir- 
cuit, in  G  rgia,  having  John  Coleman  as  junior  preacher 
to  assist  him. 

In  1828,  on  the  10th  of  February,  at  Camden,  South  Caro- 
lina, Brother  Blade  was  ordained  an  elder  by  Bishop  Soule. 
His  health  Laving  become  much  unpaired  by  long  ri 
protracted  labors,  and  much  exposure,  he  was  placed  upon 
the  superannuated  list.  Ee  sustained  this  relation  for  two 
years.  Although  his  health  was  not  restored,  yet,  because 
of  his  comparative  youth  in  the  mini-try,  at  Columbia,  South 
Carolina,  in  January,  1830,  he  asked  for  and  obtained  a 
location. 

In  this  capacity  he  labored  for  fifteen  years,  in  Southern 
Georgia  and  Florida,  struggling  with  poverty  and  bodily 
affliction,  until  the  year  1845,  when  his  health  was  so  far 
restored  that,  upon  the  organization  of  the  Florida  Confer- 
ence, in  Tallahassee,  he  presented  himself,  and  was  readmitted 


JOHN    SLADE.  281 

into  the  travelling  connection,  and  appointed  in  charge  of 
the  Bainbridge  Circuit. 

In  1846,  he  travelled  the  Blakeley  Circuit ;  in  1847,  the 
Troupville  Circuit ;  in  1848,  the  "Warrior  Mission. 

In  1849,  he  was  returned  to  the  Bainbridge  Circuit.  In 
1850,  he  was  in  charge  of  the  Irwin  Circuit.  In  1851,  he 
travelled  the  Holmesville  Mission.  In  1852,  he  was  appointed 
in  charge  of  the  "Wakulla  Circuit.  In  1853,  he  was  returned 
to  the  Troupville  Circuit.  In  1854,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Thomasville  Circuit,  where  he  closed  his  earthly  labors. 

Having  given  a  brief  account  of  the  fields  of  labor  occupied 
by  Brother  Slade,  a  short  account  of  his  general  character 
and  labors  may  be  appended. 

Brother  Slade  left  a  widow  and  two  daughters,  but  they 
can  give  little  information  as  to  his  early  training.  He  was 
born  and  brought  up  in  obscurity,  possessing  but  limited 
advantages  for  securing  an  education.  He  certainly  was 
endowed  with  an  intellect  of  high  order,  which  needed  only 
cultivation  to  have  placed  him  high  in  the  estimation  of  his 
brethren  as  a  divine. 

As  a  man,  he  was  prompt  and  inflexible  in  the  discharge 
of  what  he  considered  his  duty.  He  possessed  great  moral 
and  personal  courage,  for  he  met  and  boldly  opposed  wicked- 
ness and  impiety  in  all  places,  and  preached  Christ  to  men 
of  high  and  low  degree ;  and  he  hesitated  not  to  undergo 
the  toils,  dangers,  and  privations  of  newly  and  sparsely 
settled  countries. 

In  personal  appearance,  it  is  said  he  resembled  General 
Jackson.  He  was  tall  and  athletic,  with  a  high  forehead, 
and  a  voice  at  once  strong,  clear,  and  musical. 

In  singing,  he  had  but  few  equals ;  and  few  could  be  heard 
so  distinctly,  or  at  so  great  a  distance. 


i>2  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

There  was  something  dignified  and  commanding  in  his 
demeanor  while  in  the  pulpit :  in  fact,  lie  only  needed  a 
finished  education  to  have  placed  him  among  the  first  orators 
of  his  age. 

Never  shall  I  forget  my  first  interview  with  this  man  of 
God,  at  Damascus  Camp-meeting,  in  Qadsdeo  County,  Florida, 
in  1^40.  I  requested  him  at  night  to  close  the  services.  He 
was  poorly  clad,  wayworn,  and  weather-beaten.  AVith  long, 
flowing  white  Locks,  he  recalled  to  my  mind  the  image  which 
I  had  formed  of  an  old  patriarch  or  apostle.  After  the 
sermon,  he  commenced  singing  the  hymn, 

"  Hark  !  how  the  gospel  trumpet  Bounds ! 
Through  all  the  world  the  echo  bounds; 
And  Jesus,  by  redeeming  blood, 
Is  bringing  sinners  back  to  God; 
A:.  1  guides  them  safely  by  his  word 
To  endless  day;" 

and  ere  he  had  concluded  this  short  hymn,  the  whole  multi- 
tude Beemed  to  I  ■  moved  by  an  overwhelming  tide  of 
feeling.  He  then  delivered  a  mosl  earnest  exhortation,  which, 
imbued  with  the  spirit  and  power  of  r  pel,  produced 
Lasting  impressions.  Two  or  three  times  during  this  camp- 
meeting  he  preached,  with  great  .success.  Finding  that  he 
was  str;  .  with  poverty,  that  he  was  very  destitute,  I 
applied,  without  his  knowledge,  to  some  friends  for  pecuniary 
aid,  and  \>vy  easily  raised  fifty  dollars  for  his  benefit.  On 
the  reception  of  this  free-will  offering,  he  manifested  great 
humility  and  sincere  gratitude. 

During  this  and  the  following  year,  he  attended  various 
camp-meetings  and  quarterly  meetings  in  the  Florida  Dis- 
trict.    At  these   meetings  he  was   always   ready  to   preach, 


JOHN    SLADE.  283 

exhort,  sing,  or  labor  at  the  altar,  as  occasion  might  require. 
In  prayer  he  was  eminently  successful,  at  all  times  seeming 
to  feel  himself  in  the  august  presence  of  the  great  "I  Am." 
With  the  profoundest  reverence  and  the  greatest  humility 
did  he  appeal  to  the  Most  High.  He  felt  the  great  truth  that 
he  was  calling  on  one  who  was  not  only  pure  and  holy,  but 
who  was  mighty  to  save.  Many  who  mourned  over  their 
sins,  will  rejoice  in  eternity  at  the  success  of  his  appeals  to 
the  mercy-seat  on  their  behalf.  Many,  who  still  live,  were 
ever  ready  to  render  pecuniary  aid  to  one  so  eminently  pious 
and  devoted  to  the  cause  of  his  Master.  His  zeal  and  self- 
Bacrificing  spirit  seemed  to  plead  in  his  behalf,  and  many  felt 
it  a  sacred  duty  to  aid  one  so  manifestly  commissioned  by 
Christ  to  preach  his  gospel. 

As  a  preacher,  Brother  Slade  was  a  thorough  Methodist. 
His  views  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Methodist  Church  were 
generally  clear  and  comprehensive,  and  his  arguments  strong 
and  convincing.  The  Bible  was  emphatically  his  text-book, 
and  well  might  it  have  been  told  the  infidel  and  sinner,  in 
the  language  of  the  old  poet,  "  Beware  of  the  man  of  one 
book."  Yet  he  sought  books  that  could  illustrate  and 
explain  his  "one  book,"  though  perhaps  he  did  not  devote 
as  much  time  as  some  others  to  the  study  of  works  on  Theo- 
logy. He  sought  diligently  to  make  himself  acquainted  with 
the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  as  held  by  the  Methodist  Church. 
In  these  he  was  well  versed ;  and  generally  he  succeeded  in 
presenting  them  successfully  to  the  people  among  whom  he 
labored. 

In  his  itinerant  life,  Brother  Slade  was  a  pioneer,  going 
into  many  districts  where  Christ  had  never  been  preached, 
and  boldly  declaring  to  the  hardy  pioneers  around  him, 
"Without  holiness,  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord."     Oftentimes 


284  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

occupied  the  most  destitute  portions  of  a  sparsely  settled 

country ;  but  be  was  a  bold  and  fearless  man,  and  did  not 

shrink  from  undergoing  the  &tigae  and  dangers  attending 

Buch  labors.    He  was  ready  at  all  times  to  penetrate  the 

fc,  and  proclaim  with  undaunted  conrage  the  truths  of 

pel   to  its  untutored   inhabitant-.     Many  incidents 

might  be  given  from  his  eventful  life,  setting  forth  his  daunt* 

1  bs  yet  ChristiaD  heroism.     Many  ■  family,  who  had  left 

ds  and  Sabbath  privileges,  and  had  found  a  home  in  the 

deep  forest,  was  gladdened  by  the  visits,  strengthened  by  the 
prayers,  ami  edified  by  the  godly  conversation  of  this  noble 
old  u soldier  of  the  cross."  Often  would  such  a  family  have 
their  wilderness-home  Burrounded  by  men  who  "were  with- 
out  hope  and  without  God  in  the  world;"  who  respected 
Sabbath,  and  worshipped  no  God;  but  seeing  the  seal  ami 
hi  aring  tin-  exhortations  of  the  man  of  God,  the  pious  family 

d  "to   fight   the   good  fight  of  faith,  and 

lay  ln-id  on  eternal  life." 

ither  Blade  never  hesitated  to  preach  the  doctrines  re- 
ceived by  hie  Church,  and  often  has  his  Logic  .-wept  away  all 
opposition  from  a  candid  mind,  and  his  boldness  been  re- 
warded with  a  new  convert  to  truth.    <>n  occasion  he 

preaching  "n  the  Bubjed  of  Baptism  in  Appling  County. 
Ili-  Btatemenl  of  his  doctrines  was  clear,  and  he  proceeded 
with  a  Beriee  of  strong  and  powerful  arguments  to  Bupport  it. 
As  he  advanced  from  point  to  point,  he  warmed  up  with  his 
theme:  he  became  fired  with  that  ardent  love  of  truth  which 
condemns  all  opposition  ;  and  while  dealing  out  some  heavy 
blows  to  what  be  deemed   .  Tors,  one  of  his  hearers 

me  enraged,  ami  openly  and  loudly  cursed  him.  He 
threatened,  in  his  peculiar  style,  "to  maul"  him  if  he  did 
not  stop.     Undisturbed  by  an  attack  so  unceremonious  and 


JOHN    SLADE.  285 

unexpected,  Brother  Slade  proceeded  with  his  discourse. 
Once  or  twice  he  paused  to  reprove,  but  before  he  finished 
his  sermon,  he  succeeded  not  only  in  silencing  but  in 
thoroughly  convincing  his  formidable  foe,  who  became  not 
only  a  convert  to  the  truth,  but  the  firm  and  steadfast  friend 
of  the  preacher.     Rich  reward  to  the  devoted  lover  of  truth  ! 

Brother  Slade  was  remarkably  prompt  in  attending  his 
appointments.  In  a  new  country,  he  had  many  difficulties 
to  surmount,  many  dangers  to  meet,  and  many  privations  to 
endure.  But  he  looked  to  an  Almighty  Father,  and,  leaning 
upon  the  strong  but  invisible  arm  of  Jehovah,  he  went  forth 
to  brook  the  dangers  that  beset  his  path.  lie  stopped  not 
for  heat  or  for  cold,  for  wet  or  for  dry,  and  rarely  did  he 
hesitate  to  plunge  into  a  swollen  and  rapid  stream,  when  in 
his  way  to  meet  his  appointments.  On  one  occasion,  in 
Early  County,  when  going  to  an  appointment,  he  found  that 
a  stream  in  his  way  had  been  much  swollen  by  late  heavy 
rains.  He  paused  not,  but  urged  his  horse  in,  and  swam 
safely  over.  But  it  was  a  very  bitter,  cold  day,  and  ere  he 
arrived  at  the  small  church,  many  icicles  had  formed  upon  his 
garments.  In  this  condition  "  he  preached  the  gospel  to  the 
poor"  there  assembled.  A  hardened  sinner  in  the  little  con- 
gregation, looking  on  him  as  he  stood  and  preached  Jesus, 
was  struck  not  only  with  the  appearance  of  the  messenger, 
but  with  the  power  of  truth.  He  sought  and  obtained  the 
forgiveness  of  his  sins,  and  still  lives  to  remember  gratefully 
the  shivering  messenger  of  mercy  to  him.  Behold  how 
Christ  rewards  his  devoted  minister ! 

Sometimes  Brother  Slade' s  sermons  were  attended  with 
great  power.  I  heard  him  preach  once  at  a  camp-meeting  in 
Hamilton  County,  Florida,  on  the  "Divinity  of  Christ  and 
the  triumphs  of  his  gospel."     It  was  full  of  sublimity  and 


28G  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

power,  and  delivered  with  great  dignity  and  effect  I  thought 
it  truly  eloquent.  Not  unfrequently  his  sermons  carried  with 
them  iwival  fire,  and  would  strike  conviction  to  many  a  pre- 
viously careless  heart  By  Buch  sermons  lie  lias  spread  joy 
and  gladness,  and  made  many  additions  to  the  Church  of 
I  ist  What  a  wonderful  effect  Lb  always  produced  by 
preaching  the  pun  gospel  of  Jesus  Chri 

In  1840,  while  a  local  preacher,  he  commenced  a  meeting 
with  the  Rev.  EL  J.  Cowart,  the  preacher  in  charge  of  Bain* 
bridge  Circuit  As  Brother  Cowart  was  a  young  man, 
Brother  Bis  the    principal    Bpeaker.     The   meeting 

continued  for  ten  days.  His  sermons  on  that  occasion  were 
plain  hut  powerful.    Th<  1  to  breathe  the  spirit  of  an 

The  poor  received  the  lt<  »~i  ■«  1  gladly;  and  many  of 
rich,  the  proud,  the  fashionable,  who  could  not  withstand 
.  t'.-ll  before  the  cross,  and  were  made  to  rejoice  in 
•hat  "inheritance  which  is  incorruptible  and  unde- 
fined, and  that  fndeth  col  away.'*    After  the  meeting  •  Losed, 
he  baptized  twenty-seven   by  pouring,   and   seventeen    by 
immersion.    But  on  the  next  day  the  hand  of  affliction 
laid  heavily  upon  him,  and  for  a  long  time  he  was  unable  to 
h.   But  whi  lutward  man  "  was  thus  suffering,  the 

''inward  man"  was  "  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God." 

Soon  after  his  recovery,  an  Incident  occurred  which  shows 
his  zeal  in  the  cause  of  his  Master.  Be  met  a  congregation 
according  to  appointment,  but  the  friends  had  failed  to  get 
their  house  covered.  Not  at  all  disconcerted  by  this  circum- 
stance, '  gregation  sat,  while  he  stood,  beneath  the 
burning  rays  of  a  summer's  Bun,  and,  with  Bible  in  hand, 
preached  "Christ  crucified"  to  a  handful  of  -inner.-,  with 
three  or  four  Christians.  On  this  spot  there  now  stands  a 
large  church,  with  a  large  membership.     Many  who  1" 


JOHN    SLADE.  287 

him  on  that  occasion  still  live,  and  are  always  ready  to  give 
him  the  honor  he  so  richly  deserved. 

A  just  meed  of  praise  is  awarded  to  this  sainted  man  by 
one  who  was  present  at  the  organization  of  the  Florida  Con- 
ference Missionary  Society,  at  the  first  session  of  the  Florida 
Conference.  After  speaking  of  the  zeal  of  the  people,  their 
liberality,  and  devotion  to  the  cause,  he  gives  several  very 
interesting  incidents  connected  with  the  occasion :  among 
these,  he  makes  honorable  mention  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch : 

"  To  crown  the  interest  of  this  novel  and  exciting  scene, 
just  at  this  moment  a  hoary-headed  man,  of  plain  and  unpre- 
tending exterior,  was  seen  wending  his  way  along  the  aisle 
of  the  church,  towards  the  altar.  He  was  leaning,  like  Jacob, 
upon  his  staff:  still  there  was  something  of  elasticity  about 
his  step,  the  fire  of  his  eye  was  still  undimmed,  and,  as  he 
looked  around  him,  a  smile  as  of  holy  triumph  played  across 
his  manly  features.  Who  was  that  time-honored  one?  It 
was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Slade,  the  first  man  who  planted  the  stand- 
ard of  the  cross  in  Florida,  when  this  fair  land  was  a  voiceless 
solitude.  He  it  was  who,  fired  by  the  same  zeal  which  still 
throws  its  unquenched  halo  around  his  declining  years,  left 
the  abodes  of  civilization,  to  bear  the  glad  tidings  of  the 
gospel  to  the  few  straggling  settlers  who  had  penetrated  the 
haunts  of  the  red  man  in  these  Southern  wilds ;  a  pioneer 
bold,  fearless,  and  strong  in  the  Lord,  who  stood  up  in  the 
wigwam,  in  the  low-roofed  cottage,  or  under  the  sheltering 
branches  of  some  primeval  oak,  and  mingled  the  voice  of 
praise  and  thanksgiving  with  the  hoarse  murmurings  of  the 
wilderness,  the  roaring  of  the  distant  waterfall,  and  the 
desert  howlings  of  the  savage  Indian.  What  must  have  been 
the  feelings  of  that  toil-worn  veteran  of  the  cross,  as  he  drew 


288  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

a  contrast  between  those  fading  reminiscences  of  the  past, 
and  the  living  realities  of  the  present  !  What  a  tide  of  asso- 
ciations must  have  rolled  across  his  mind  as  lit.'  remembered 
the  little  'cloud  of  witnesses,'  not  larger  than  a  man's  hand, 
that  used  to  hover  about  his  pathway  in  the  days  of  his  first 
sojourn  in  Florida,  and  beheld  it  now,  with  its  magnificent 
folds  extended  along  the  face  of  the  whole  heavens,  easting 
forth  its  alternate  Bhowers  and  -hade  apoD  the  sunburnt  soil, 
and  causing  the  joyless  desert  to  bloom  and  'blossom  as  the 
rose!'  " 

As  a  Christian,  lb-other  Blade  was  deeply  and  habitually 

pious.     He  eared  not   for  tin-  -wealth   or  the  honors  of  the 

world,  but  he  was  willing  to  "count  all  things  but  loss  for 

:  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  his  Lord." 

Religion  was  his  eon-taut  study.     Eh  great  desire  was  to  do 

good,  and  to  this  he  devoted  all  his  j  .  both  of  body  and 

mind.  Salvation  was  hie  theme  on  the  road :  he  spoke  of  it 
around  the  fireside,  and  everywhere  "his  conversation  was  as 
it  beeometh  the  gospel  of  Christ."  Bis  thought  no  conde- 
scension too  low,  no  undertaking  too  arduous,  to  reclaim  the 
meanest  sinner.     Bj  means  did  he  strive  to  turn  men 

from  the  error  of  their  way,  and  every  inducement  did  he 
use  to  awaken  them  to  virtue  and  religion.  With  him,  the 
value  of  an  immortal  bouI  could  not  be  estimated.  He  en- 
tered the  cottage  of  the  wretched  and  the  ignorant,  and 
patiently  taught  them  the  plan  of  redemption.  Hi-  preach- 
ing has  often  transformed  outcasts  and  profligates  into  useful 
members  of  society,  and  has  filled  with  prayer  and  praise  the 
mouths  that  were  previous]  1   to  the  most  fearful 

blasphemies.  ITc  was  devoted  to  God  and  to  Methodism. 
Is  it  strange  that  such  a  man  Bhould  "die  well?"  that  he 
should  calmly  resign  his  body  to  his  mother  dust,  and  his 


JOHN    SLADE.  289 

soul  to  God  who  gave  it  ?  He  was  willing  "  to  depart  and  be 
with  Christ."  It  would  be  strange  if  one  who  possessed  such 
hope  did  not  triumph  in  the  hour  of  death. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  1854,  when  on  the  Thomasville  Cir- 
cuit, he  attended  an  appointment  at  Spring  Hill,  and,  while 
taking  his  horse  from  his  buggy  in  the  churchyard,  he  was 
suddenly  stricken  down  with  paralysis.  For  several  years 
previous  to  this  his  health  had  been  good.  For  some  time 
hopes  were  entertained  that  he  would  recover;  but  on  the 
24th,  unwilling  that  his  congregation  should  be  disappointed, 
he  preached  a  short  sermon  on  Rev.  xv.  2,  3.  The  effort  so 
prostrated  him  that  all  hope  of  his  recovery  was  lost ;  and  on 
the  following  evening,  at  seven  o'clock,  his  sun  went  down 
in  a  clear  sky.  He  gently  breathed  out  his  soul  to  Jesus, 
and  entered  into  that  rest  that  remaineth  to  the  people  of 
God.  During  his  sickness  he  spoke  calmly  of  death,  being 
"strong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God."  What  is  the  world 
worth  in  comparison  with  the  emotions  in  the  bosom  of  this 
noble  man,  when  he  reviewed  a  life  spent  in  the  service  of 
his  Master  ? 

He  was  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  He  had  spent 
thirty-four  years  in  the  service  of  God  and  for  the  good  of 
his  fellow-men.  "When  he  had  run  his  race,  when  his  earthly 
career  was  closed,  he  died  as  an  itinerant  minister  might  be 
expected  to  die — "he  died  well." 


19 


290  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

PAHA  I'll  II  AS  E    OF    1    TH  ESS.    IV.    13. 

BY     C1IAIILE9     WESLEY. 

Let  the  world  lament  their  dea  1, 

As  Borrowing  without  he; 
!  ■  friend  of  our8  is  (toed, 

Wa  cheerfully  look  up, 
Cannot  murmur  or  complain, 

For  our  dead  we  cannot  gi 
Death  to  tln'in,  t"  us  ia  gain: 

In  Jesus  we  belie\c. 

We  believe  that  Christ,  our  I 
F.>r  i.  •  :  ■  atli  : 

Ilev  1  with  tin'  | 

And  'lying  oonqnerc  1  death  ; 

•  tin.-  harrier-  of  the  totnh  ; 
.  oonld  him  no  longer  keep: 
Ik-  ia  tin-  fu-t-fruits  become 
Of  those  in  bin  tii  it 

:.  who  him  t  red, 

Shall  all  his  member.-  I 
Bring  them  quickened  with  their  I 

Tin1  rlii'.'lron  of  hi-  prace. 
We  who  then  on  earth  remain 

ill  not  sooner  bo  brought  home, 
All  the  dea>l  shall  rise  again 
To  meet  the  general  doom. 

Je9us,  faithful  to  his  word, 

Shall  with  a  shout  dl  - 
All  heaYen's  host  their  glorious  I 

Shall  pompously  attend. 
Christ  shall  come  with  <lrea'lful  I 

Lightnings  swift,  and  thumler-  Ion  1, 
With  the  great  archangel's  voice, 

And  with  the  trump  of  God. 


EZRA    C.    THORNTON.  291 


EZRA  C.  THORNTON. 

BY    THE    REV.     STAUNTON    FIELD. 

Ezra  Clarke  Thornton  was  born  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  April  7,  1817.  He  was  of  humble  but  reputable 
parentage.  He  appears  to  have  enjoyed  no  educational 
advantages  beyond  those  of  a  primary  school.  Inured  to 
hardship  from  his  childhood,  a  continuous  struggle  with 
difficulties  developed  that  physical  activity,  masculine  energy, 
and  force  of  character  which  distinguished  him  in  after  life. 
Of  his  early  years  we  have  no  further  information ;  but  if 
"the  child  is  father  of  the  man,"  we  may  imagine  him  to 
have  been  a  youth  of  vivacity,  intelligence,  and  promise, 
exciting  hopes  that  were  not  doomed  to  disappointment. 

When  he  was  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  the  Thornton 
family  removed  to  the  "West.  They  settled  temporarily  in 
Richmond,  Ross  County,  Ohio,  where  Ezra  grew  up  to  man- 
hood, industriously  engaged  in  earning  a  support.  With 
very  limited  educational  and  religious  privileges,  in  an  un- 
cultivated society,  he  cut  his  way,  with  a  brave  heart,  through 
the  forest  of  the  world. 

Settling  his  father  and  family,  he  entered  a  store  as  clerk, 
on  a  very  limited  salary,  and,  by  great  prudence  and  economy, 
saved  enough  money  to  purchase  a  small  farm,  on  which  the 


292  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

family  was  placed.  He  then  turned  bis  attention  to  teach- 
ing; and,  while  engaged  in  this  honorable  vocation,  found 
time  and  means  to  prosecute  his  studies  and  improve  his 
mind. 

lie  was  thus  self-taught  and  self-made.  lie  became  a  good 
English  scholar,  was  possessed  of  varied  intelligence,  and  was 
eminently  successful  M  an  instructor  of  youth. 

On  the  30th  of  October,  1841,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
Ann  Graves — his  now  desolate  widow.  After  this  event,  he 
removed  to  Jackson,  Ohio,  and  after  some  vacillation  in  his 
plans,  fixed  od  the  profession  of  the  law,  during  the  study 
of  which  an  event  transpired  which  changed  the  whole 
course  of  life. 

Li  the  spring  of  1842,  he  became  the  subject  of  deep  and 
abiding  religions  impressions.  A  devoted  friend  of  Mr. 
Thornton  says :  "This  great  change  in  onr  dear  friend  took 
place  under  the  ministry  of  that  good  man.  Father  Force,  of 
the  OMo  Conference,  father  of  our  James  Feree,  of  the  Louis- 
ville Conference."  That  venerable  Bervant  of  God  was  then 
Presiding  Elder  of  the  Jackson  District,  and  the  Rev.  Jacob 
Daly  was  preacher  in  charge  of  the  Circuit.  These  men  of 
God  took  the  trembling  penitent  by  the  hand,  pointed  him  to 
Christ,  and  enrolled  his  name  in  the  register  of  the  Church, 
lie  never  ceased  his  struggles  for  salvation  until  he  was 
enabled  to  cast  his  burdened  Bpirit  on  the  great  atonement. 
"His  penitency,"  says  one  who  knew  him  well,  "was  deep 
and  pungent,  and  his  conversion  clear  and  satisfactory." 
Of  an  impassioned  and  enthusiastic  spirit,  he  became  wholly 
absorbed  in  the  subject  of  religion. 

In  all  likelihood,  he  felt  himself  called  to  the  ministry 
from  the  very  hour  of  his  conversion.  In  the  autumn  of  the 
same  year,   1842,   he  was   licensed  to    officiate   as   a  local 


EZRA    C.    THORNTON.  293 

preacher.  His  conviction  of  duty  in  this  matter  was  strong 
and  abiding ;  and  he  yielded  to  it  as  well  from  the  desire  of 
promoting  the  glory  of  God  in  the  salvation  of  sinners,  as 
from  the  fear  of  the  penalty  of  delinquency,  "  "Woe  is  unto 
me,  if  I  preach  not  the  gospel!" 

In  the  year  1843,  Mr.  Thornton  removed  to  Portsmouth, 
Ohio,  where  he  resumed  his  occupation  as  a  teacher,  exercis- 
ing his  gifts  also  as  a  local  preacher  until  the  ensuing  year, 
when  he  entered  the  itinerancy. 

The  year  1844  will  be  memorable  in  the  history  of  Ameri- 
can Methodism.  The  proceedings  which  led  to  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Church  into  two  distinct  ecclesiastical  organiza- 
tions, attracted  the  attention  of  Mr.  Thornton,  who  gave  the 
subject  a  serious  and  impartial  consideration.  Though  a 
native  of  a  Northern  State,  and  then  a  resident  of  Ohio,  he 
deliberately  avowed  his  adherence  to  the  principles  of  the 
Southern  Church.  According  to  the  "Itinerant"  of  Decem- 
ber 1,  1856,  "  he  came  over  to  a  Quarterly  Meeting  held  at 
Mount  Zion,  in  Greenup  County,  Kentucky,  during  the 
summer  of  1845,  and  conferred  with  the  Rev.  John  C.  Harri- 
son, Presiding  Elder  of  the  Maysville  District,  Kentucky 
Conference,  in  regard  to  the  rights  of  adherence ;  and,  re- 
ceiving proper  instruction  and  encouragement,  he  repaired  to 
the  next  session  of  that  Conference,  and  was  employed  as  a 
supply  for  the  Crittenden  Circuit  by  the  Eev.  Gilby  Kelly, 
Presiding  Elder  of  the  Covington  District." 

Having  served  the  Church  acceptably  for  a  portion  of  the 
year  on  Crittenden  Circuit,  he  appeared,  duly  recommended 
for  admission  into  the  travelling  connection,  at  the  ensuing 
session  of  the  Kentucky  Conference,  held  in  Covington,  Ky., 
September  23,  1846.  As  Mr.  Thornton  had  a  family,  and  the 
Kentucky  Conference  had  a  rule  barring  the  admission  of 


204  BIOGRAPIIICAL    SKETCHES. 

married  men  into  its  ranks,  "his  application  occasioned  con 
siderable  discussion,  which  waa  closed  by  a  pungent  speech 
from  Dr.  Bascom  against  the  rule;  and  Mr.  Thornton  -was 
admitted  <>n  trial. 

At  the  close  of  the  Conference,  he  waa  stationed  at  Louisa, 
a  small  town  pleasantly  situated  on  the  Big  Sandy  River — 
the  county-scat  of  Lawrence  County,  Kentucky. 

He  made  a  good  impression  upon  the  people  at  his  first 

appearance  among  them,  and  continued  to  grow  in   their 

tions  to  the  end  of  the  year.    At  the  next  Conference, 

he  v  ted  to  Louisa,  ami  sustained  himself  well, 

ring  his  charge  with  great  acceptance  and  profit  to  the 

end  of  t;  d  year. 

At  •      <  of  1848,  he  waa  appointed  to  Greenupa- 

burg  Circuit.  Here  he  labored  with  much  satisfaction  to  the 
people,  and  not  without  They  Bpeak  of  him  as  "a 

hard  worker" — no  unmeaning  compliment.  At  the  next 
<  pointed  I    i  apsburg,  and  served 

the  Church  laboriously  and  acceptably  to  the  end  of  the 
second  year,  when  he  left  the  Circuit  with  an  enviable  popu- 
larity. 

Ahout  this  time,  the  V.'.  •  rn  Virginia  Conference  vra9 
organized.  The  territory  embraced  within  its  bounds  was 
ff  from  the  Kentucky  Conference,  with  all  the  preachers 
then  occupying  it.  Among  them  waa  Mr.  Thornton,  who  at 
that  time  was  making  preparations  to  locate,  and  seek  a  home 
in  the  far  West  lie  was  moved  to  this  course  by  a  desire  to 
make  some  provision  for  his  growing  family.  His  heart  Bank 
within  him  when  he  looked  on  the  partner  of  his  bosom,  and 
the  dear  pledges  of  love  thai  God  hud  given  him,  that  were 
liable  to  he  left  at  any  moment  to  the  cold  charities  of  a 
selfish  world. 


EZRA    C.    THORNTON.  295 

Providentially,  however,  lie  attended  the  Conference,  which 
was  organized  at  Parkersburg,  September  4,  1850.  Here  he 
was  ordained  elder,  having  received  deacons'  orders  two 
years  before,  at  the  session  in  Flemingsburg,  Kentucky. 

While  Bishop  Andrew,  in  addressing  the  candidates  for 
admission  into  full  connection,  in  his  peculiar  and  stirring 
manner  enlarged  on  the  question,  "Have  you  faith  in  God?" 
reminding  the  preachers  that  such  a  faith  comprehends  faith 
in  his  providence  to  take  care  of  them  and  their  families,  Mr. 
Thornton's  feelings  were  wrought  up  to  the  highest  point  of 
intensity,  and  he  wept  aloud,  declaring  that  he  would  never 
again  think  of  locating  while  God  should  give  him  strength 
to  travel. 

At  the  close  of  the  session,  he  was  appointed  to  Parkers- 
burg District,  which  embraced  a  large  extent  of  country, 
since  divided  into  two  Districts.  Here  for  two  years  he 
labored  with  great  acceptance  and  success. 

In  many  portions  of  his  District,  Southern  Methodism  was 
for  the  first  time  introduced  and  established — particularly  in 
Clarksburg,  where  he  was  remarkably  successful  and  greatly 
beloved.  *' 

The  spirit  and  feelings  with  which  he  entered  on  the  re- 
sponsible work  of  a  Presiding  Elder,  may  be  seen  in  the 
following  extract  from  a  letter  to  his  friend,  Mr.  Joseph 
Foster,  then  of  Greenupsburg,  Kentucky.     He  says : 

"  I  suppose  you  would  like  to  hear  something  about  how  I 
am  coming  on  in  my  new  relation  to  the  Church.  At  first,  it 
was  hard  to  get  the  armor  to  Jit.  I  was  introduced  to  a  Bro- 
ther Sargent,  an  old  and  venerable  member  of  the  Church, 
as  the  Presiding  Elder.  The  next  morning,  in  love-feast,  he 
arose,  the  tears  streaming,  and  said,  '  "When  I  was  introduced 
to  our  Presiding  Elder,  I  thought,  Is  it  possible !  they  have 


296  BIOGRAPHICAL    SK  ETC  III-. 

scut  such  a  stripling  here  to  be  the  leader  of  the  host !  But,' 
said  he,  'if  the  Lord  is  with  him,  like  David,  we  will  get  the 
victory.'  We  had  an  excellent  time,  indeed.  I  have  now 
held  three  Quarterly  Meetings,  and  all  have  been  good — the 
last  very  good.  In  going  t"  Ravenswood,  I  fell  in  with  a  man 
who,  iu  conversation,  informed  me  that  he  was  a  friend  to 
the  Church — his  wife  a  member,  etc  lie  tried,  by  various 
questions,  to  find  ont  who  T  was :  hut  I  evaded.  lie  told  me 
there  was  a  Quarterly  Meeting  in  Ravenswood  on  Saturday 
and  Sunday.  When  we  parted,  I  said,  'If  you  will  come  to 
meeting  on  Sunday,  at  eleven,  perhaps  yon  may  sec  me,  and 
find  out  who  I  am.'  lie  said,  'I  will  come.1  lie  came — 
d  till  night.  I  was  assisted  much  by  the  good  Spirit.  I 
made  an    appeal    to   parents    in   an    exhortation,  and  when    I 

opened  the  door  of  the  church,  he  came  rushing  over  the 
benches,  threw  his  arm-  around  me,  and  said,  'I  have  found 
out  who  you  are:  pray  forme!'  One  old  man,  a  skeptic,  sal 
and  wept  like  a  child  in  the  time  of  preaching  at  eleven 
o'clock.  Surely  God  was  there!  I  have  been  abundantly 
led,  Brother  Foster,  in  my  labors,  Bince  I  came  here;  and 
to  God  he  all  the  glory.  Amen.  The  prospect  for  good 
times  is,  indeed,  very  flattering,  ami,  by  the  help  of  the  good 
Lord,  I  intend  to  try  I  ';/•'■/',  ami  do  my  duty." 

After  two  years  of  hard  labor  ami  many  trials,  he  was  re- 
moved from  the  Parkersburg  to  the  Goyandotte  District, 
where  he  continued  one  year. 

At  the  Conference  held  in  Clarksburg,  ho  was  stationed  at 
Catlettshurg.  Here  he  had  math:  arrangements  fur  the  erec- 
tion of  an  academy,  which  enterprise  he  successfully  prose- 
cuted. This  enlarged  his  sphere  of  usefulness,  and  eked  out 
pport  for  his  large  and  growing  family.  His  course  in 
this  matter  was  approved  by  the  Conference,  which,  at  its 


EZRA    C.    THOENTON.  297 

next  session,  elected  him  delegate  to  the  General  Conference 
of  1854.  He  was  chosen  on  the  first  ballot,  and  proved  a 
faithful  and  valuable  representative  in  that  venerable  body. 

At  the  next  Conference,  he  was  returned  to  Catlettsburg,  to 
which  was  annexed  the  town  of  Ashland.  In  this  little  place, 
which  is  laid  out  for  a  large  city,  he  organized  a  society,  lay- 
ing the  foundation  on  which  it  is  hoped  his  successors  will 
build  a  flourishing  church. 

He  was  next  appointed  to  Guyandotte  and  Marshall  Aca- 
demy, some  ten  or  twelve  miles  above  Catlettsburg.  Here 
he  labored  faithfully  and  acceptably.  The  people  were  so 
attached  to  him,  that,  at  the  next  session  of  the  Conference, 
which  was  held  at  Guyandotte,  they  unanimously  and  ear- 
nestly remonstrated  against  his  removal.  But  Bishop  Early 
felt  it  his  duty  to  remove  him,  as  he  needed  his  services  on 
the  Parkersburg  District. 

"Without  murmuring  or  hesitation,  Mr.  Thornton  encoun- 
tered the  great  inconvenience  and  sacrifice  to  which  this 
appointment  subjected  him,  sold  his  property,  and  left  Guyan- 
dotte to  visit  his  relatives  in  the  West,  preparatory  to  an 
entrance  upon  the  work  of  the  District. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  1856,  he  started  on  his  tour,  never 
to  return.  The  following  particulars  are  given  in  the  lan- 
guage of  another : 

"He  was  on  a  visit  to  his  father;  and  when  within  eighty 
miles  of  his  destination,  the  cars  stopped  at  Fulton  Depot, 
"Wisconsin.  He  got  off  to  speak  to  a  friend,  and  did  not 
attempt  to  get  on  until  after  the  cars  had  started :  in  making 
the  attempt,  his  feet  slipped,  and  he  fell  on  the  rail,  when  the 
cars  passed  over  him,  crushing  both  his  legs.  The  accident 
occurred  on  the  15th  of  October.  Reaction  did  not  take  place 
so  as  to  justify  amputation  until  the  next  day,  when,  at  his 


298  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

own  request,  the  operation  was  performed;  but  lie  survived 
only  a  few  minutes  afterwards.  He  lived  only  twenty  hours 
from  the  time  he  received  the  injury,  and  retained  his  senses 
to  the  last.  Every  possible  attention  was  paid  him  by  the 
officer-  of  the  road  and  the  community.  He  was  buried  on 
18th,  in  Edgerton,  by  the  Free  Masons,  at  his  own 
requ»  -t." 

He  had  left  hi- wife  in  Indiana  with  her  friends,  and  she 
did  not  reach  the  place  where  lie  lay  until  his  happy  spirit 
had  gone  to  glory.  As  he  drew  near  the  hanks  of  "the  last 
river,"  the  thought  of  his  "poorwife  and  helpless  children" 
a  shade  of  gloom  upon  his  mind,  hut  mustering  faith 
ami  courage,  his  countenance  brightened  up  with  a  smile,  and 
brushing  away  the  tear  which  trembled  on  his  cheek,  he 
exclaimed,  "God  will  take  care  of  them!"  To  a  friend  who 
1  by  his  Bide  he  said,  "Just  as  r  expected,  brother;  the 
religion  I  have  preached  to  others  supports  me  in  death." 

TV  'eh  of  our  lamented  brother  is  unavoid- 

ably hn]  .  ad  would  he  more  so  without  the  addition 

of  a  few  reflections  on  his  character  as  a  Christian  and  a 
minister  of  Christ. 

lie  was  a  man  of  keen  perceptions,  brilliant  imagination, 
and  warm,  genial,  magnanimous  sentiments.  From  these 
characteristics  his  piety  took  its  peculiar  type:  he  was  quick 
in  apprehending,  sincere  in  professing,  and  fair  in  contend- 
ing for  "the  faith  once  delivered  unto  the  saints." 

If  he  sometimes  approached  the  "Slough  of  Despond,"  at 
other  times  he  soared  to  altitudes  of  joy  unknown  to  those 
whose  experience  is  more  even  and  uniform.  Though  excit- 
able, no  one  who  knew  him  ever  doubted  the  firmness  of  his 
principles  or  the  purity  of  his  motives.  "His  friendship," 
-  one  who  was  well  acquainted  with  him,  "was  firm  and 


EZRA    C.    THORNTON.  299 

sincere;  and  I  am  reminded  of  a  remark  of  one  who  had 
fully  tested  it,  'whenever  I  wanted  aid  and  counsel  from  one 
upon  whom  I  could  implicitly  rely,  I  called  upon  Thornton, 
and  he  never  deceived  me.' " 

As  a  preacher  he  was  deservedly  popular.  He  was  a  fine 
declaimer.  His  style  was  elevated,  pathetic,  and  declama- 
tory, and  his  manner  of  delivery  rapid,  animated,  and 
enthusiastic.  When  in  a  proper  mood,  with  a  Divine  afflatus 
resting  on  him,  his  pulpit  efforts  were  displays  of  almost 
overpowering  oratory.  He  was  uniformly  a  good  preacher. 
His  talents,  if  not  profound,  were  of  a  practical,  utilitarian 
order,  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  Church  and  the  world. 

He  was  a  close  student,  and  by  dint  of  application,  in  the 
face  of  the  most  formidable  obstacles,  he  had  become  a 
scholar  of  considerable  and  varied  acquirements.  His  library 
was  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  best,  in  our  Conference.  With 
so  many  cares  and  labors  as  were  imposed  upon  him,  how  he 
found  time  to  study  is  hard  to  divine.  May  his  mantle  of 
zeal,  devotion,  and  energy,  fall  upon  the  Conference  of  which 
he  was  so  useful  a  member ! 


300  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


GO     TO     THE     G  U A  V E . 

BY     JAMES     MONTGOMERY. 

Go  to  the  grave  in  all  thy  glorious  prime, 

In  full  activity  of  leal  aud  power : 
A  Chril  ■   his  time, 

The  Lord'*  appointment  is  the  servant's  boor. 

Go  to  the  grave :  at  noon  from  labor  cease  ; 

K  -t  uu  thy  sheaves,  thy  harvest-task  is  done: 
Come  from  the  heart  of  battle,  and  in  peace, 

liar,  go  home;  with  thee  the  fight  is  won. 

Go  to  the  grave:  though  like  a  fallen  tree, 

At  once  with  verdure,  Bowtn,  and  fruitage  crowned, 

Thy  form  may  perish,  and  thine  honors  be 
Lost  in  the  mouldering  bosom  of  the  ground 

Go  to  the  grave,  which,  faithful  to  its  tru-t. 

The  germ  of  immortality  shall  keep ; 
\  -  ife,  as  watched  bj  cherubim,  thy  dust 

Shall,  till  the  judgment-day,  in  Jesus 

Go  to  the  grave,  f<>r  there  thy  Saviour  lay 
In  death's  embraces,  ere  he  rose  on  high ; 

And  all  the  ransomed,  by  that  narrow  way, 
Pass  to  eternal  life  beyond  the  sky. 

Go  to  the  grave — no,  take  thy  seat  above : 
Be  thy  pure  spirit  present  with  the  Lord. 

Where  thou,  for  faith  and  hope,  hast  perfect  love, 
And  open  vision  for  the  written  word. 


IGNATIUS    A.    FEW.  301 


IGNATIUS  A.  FEW. 

BY    THE    REV.    ALEXANDER    MEANS,    M.D. 

Mankind  have,  in  all  ages,  and  in  every  stage  of  civiliza- 
tion, been  accustomed  to  respect  and  reverence  those  who 
have  been  gifted  with  high  capabilities,  or  who  have  been 
distinguished  for  the  exercise  of  any  recognized  virtue  in  the 
age  in  which  they  have  lived.  Even  barbarism  itself,  within 
whose  dark  domain  mind  is  regarded  as  a  mere  appendage  to 
manhood,  is  strongly  characterized  by  this  popular  impulsion. 
The  South  Sea  Islander  yields  the  palm  of  greatness  and  bows 
in  patient  submission  to  the  savage  whose  stalwart  arm  most 
successfully  wields  the  fatal  seal-club,  or  most  skilfully 
drives  the  bounding  canoe  over  the  foaming  seas.  The  wild 
native  of  the  West,  whose  ideas  of  glory  are  limited  to  the 
achievements  of  the  chase  and  the  triumphs  of  the  tomahawk, 
honors  with  the  sceptre  of  his  tribe  the  veteran  hunter  of  a 
thousand  skins,  or  the  battle-worn  warrior  of  a  hundred 
scalps.  Much  more,  then,  within  the  reign  of  civilization, 
and  under  the  benignant  auspices  of  a  rational,  elevating, 
and  sublime  religion,  where  man  exultingly  learns  his  true 
dignity,  and  cultivated  mind  assumes  its  high  prerogatives, 
may  we  expect  to  find  in  its  least  objectionable  and  purest 


302  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

form  this  constitutional  trait  in  human  nature.  Here  a  lofty, 
durable,  deathless  reputation  is  not  the  precocious  offspring 
of  an  hour,  or  the  capricious  boon  of  wayward  fortune, 
thrown  full-formed  upon  the  world,  but,  like  the  stalactical 
columns  in  the  grotto  of  Antiparos,  the  slow  and  silent 
aggroupment  of  millionaiy  molecules,  accumulated  through 
the  lapse  of  tedious  and  toilsome  year-,  imperceptibly  grow- 
ing in  strength,  expanding  in  beauty,  and  swelling  in  noble 
proportions,  until  the  eye  is  ravished  with  its  crystalline 
purity  and  classic  form,  and  earth  and  heaven  may  safely 
repose  their  interests  upon  its  unbending  shaft. 

It  is  true  that  amid  the  caprices  which  have  sometimes 
governed  communities,  as  well  as  the  revolutions  which  have 
frequently  agitated  nations,  a  few  meritless  but  fortunate 
individuals  have  been  suddenly  foisted  apon  the  attention  of 
the  world,  and  shone  lustrous  for  a  time  with  the  insignia  of 
popular  favor.  But  to  reach  that  enviable  distinction  and 
perpetuity  of  fame  which  goodne-s  ami  greatness  unitedly 
confer,  knowltdgt  and  virtue  must  blend  their  ample  resources, 
ami  activity  and  zeal  characterize  their  unwearied  outlay,  for 
the  happiness  of  mankind.  One  leading  trait  of  character, 
boldly  outlined,  may  win  notoriety,  or  even  secure  applause, 
but  to  gain  the  world's  confidence,  win  the  world's  heart,  and 
wear  the  world's  glory,  requires  a  beautiful  balance  of  intel- 
lectual and  moral  power — a  majesty  and  weight  of  personal 
character  which  can  neither  be  compassed  nor  exemplified  by 
the  practice  of  any  insulated  virtue.  Nay,  more:  it  demands 
an  embodiment  of  matured  worth,  a  lovely  and  impressive 
whole  of  moral  excellences,  neither  to  be  simulated  by 
manceuvring  tricksters,  nor  basely  bought  from  parasitical 
fame-mongers.  "Wnile,  then,  on  the  one  hand,  model  speci- 
mens of  virtue,  piety,  and  usefulness,   among  the   simple- 


IGNATIUS     A.    FEW.  303 

hearted,  the  untitled,  and  the  unschooled,  justly  command 
the  respect  of  mankind ;  and  on  the  other,  signal  instances 
of  polished  cultivation,  noble  emprise,  and  startling  heroism, 
among  the  gifted  and  the  great,  may  excite  popular  admira- 
tion, it  is  only  by  the  rare  but  attractive  combination  of 
these  striking  characteristics,  where  the  purity  of  the  one  con- 
secrates the  power  of  the  other,  that  human  nature  reaches  the 
ultima  ihule  of  its  earthly  destination,  and  an  approving  world 
voluntarily  renders  the  homage  of  commingled  veneration 
and  love. 

As  it  is  the  province  of  the  profane  historian  to  trace  the 
movements  of  nations,  mark  the  shifting  phases  of  communi- 
ties, and  truthfully  to  portray  the  leading  attributes  of  those 
governing  minds  which  have  left  their  impress  upon  national 
character,  surely  the  ecclesiastical  historian  should  feel  himself 
commissioned  faithfully  to  chronicle,  from  age  to  age,  the 
onward  progress  and  leading  events  which  characterize  a 
religion  designed  to  mould  the  moral  elements  of  the  nations, 
give  cast  to  their  current  history,  and  finally  to  fix  the  des- 
tiny of  the  world.  Nor  is  the  Christian  biographer  an 
unimportant  auxiliary  in  furnishing  to  posterity  a  lively  por- 
traiture of  the  past.  It  is  his  grateful  task  to  daguerreotype 
the  features  of  those  master-minds  which  have  gained  the 
ascendency  over  the  sensual  and  sordid  proclivities  of  human 
nature,  and  at  various  periods  shone  conspicuously  amid  the 
honored  ranks  of  Zion.  It  is  his  mentally  to  reembody  for 
the  public  eye  the  distinguishing  virtues  of  the  great  and  the 
good,  whose  precious  memories  would  otherwise  soon  fade 
away  into  the  dim  light  of  tradition.  Indeed,  those  who  have 
fearlessly  and  triumphantly  vindicated  the  cardinal  and  soul- 
saving  doctrines  of  the  Church,  by  the  power  of  logic  and  the 
persuasiveness  of  rhetoric,  who  have  moved  at  the  head  of 


304  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

her  "sacramental  hosts,"  multiplied  her  conquests,  and 
widened  her  reign,  and  have  signally  identified  themselves 
with  her  history  and  progress,  rightfully  claim  some  enduring 
record  among  her  own  archives,  that  coming  generations, 
Stimulated  by  the  moral  prowess  and  intellectual  achieve- 
ments of  their  godly  sires,  may  he  sprung  to  emulate  their 
worth,  and  meekly  hut  nohly  strive  for  a  kindred  immor- 
tality. 

Nay,  minds  of  more  humble  proportions,  hut  purified  and 
ennobled  by  a  baptismal  unction  from  heaven,  that  have 
ventured  to  struggle  with  antagonistic  forces  for  the  defence 
of  truth,  and  have  resolutely  maintained  the  faith  in  the  hour 
of  peril — minds  that,  Btirred  by  the  inspiring  motto  of  the 
red  cross  which  flamed  in  the  ominous  sky  <»f  Constantino, 
."  have  practically  illustrated  the  living 
power  of  the  gospel,  and  hallowed,  in  the  world's  eye,  the 
once  despised  name  ofthe  persecuted Nazarene — should  have 
the  memories  of  their  heroic  piety  enshrined  in  the  very 
bosom  of  the  Church,  to  inspire  a  more  unselfish  devotion  to 
her  peerless  claims,  and  breed  warrior-hearts  to  bear  her 
banners  and  win  the  field  where  craven  spirits  would  fear 
and  fly.  If  the  earnest  and  heart-felt  devotion  which 
prompted  ti  hi  of  Bethany  to  pour  out  the  precious 

contents  of  her  alabaster  box  upon  the  Saviour's  head,  won,  at 
his  hands,  the  meed  of  immortality,  and  the  promise  of  a 
world-wide  lame,  which  has  been  already  in  the  progress  of 
fulfilment  for  more  than  eighteen  hundred  years,  surely  those 
noble  spirits  whose  devotions  have  been  kindled  at  the  foot 
of  the  cross,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  same  Divine  Master, 
and  whose  lives  have  been  but  one  continued  oblation  upon 
the  altars  of  his  Church,  should  have  their  names  "graven 
with  an  iron  pen  and  lead  in  the  rock  for  ever,"  and  will  not 


IGNATIUS    A.    FEW.  305 

be  forgotten  by  the  great  Arbiter  of  human  destiny  when 
the  memories  of  earth  are  revived  again  in  heaven. 

This  train  of  thought  has  been  naturally  suggested  by  the 
vivid  reminiscences  which  cluster  around  the  tomb  of  de- 
parted greatness  and  recall  the  triumphs  of  sanctified  intel- 
lect, in  the  form  of  that  venerated  friend  and  brother  whose 
name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  article.  Only  a  few  years 
have  passed  since  he  moved  in  the  might  of  his  manly  career, 
a  Socrates  in  philosophy,  a  Solon  in  counsel,  and  a  saint  in 
service.  Now  his  honored  dust  rests  in  silence  in  the  quiet 
simple  cemetery  of  Oxford,  his  loved  woodland  village,  but 
his  genius,  his  learning,  and  his  piety  shall  ever  live  in  the 
memory  of  the  thousands.  The  warmth  with  which  it  has 
been  cherished  by  the  ancient  and  honorable  masonic  frater- 
nity, with  whom  he  was  so  long  associated,  has  found  full 
expression  in  the  polished  strength  and  artistic  beauty  of  that 
monumental  obelisk  which  overlooks  the  grounds  of  Emory 
College,  and  fronts  the  noble  propylon  of  its  main  edifice, 
standing  alone  in  its  virgin  purity,  as  if  to  keep  vigil  on  the 
coast  of  time,  and  report  his  immortality  to  passing  genera- 
tions;* while  the  Trust,  Faculty,  and  Literary  Societies  of  the 
cherished  Institution,  whose  plan  his  genius  elaborated,  and 

*  The  entire  craft  throughout  the  State  have,  by  voluntary  contribution,  erected 
a  marble  obelisk  to  his  memory,  resting  upon  a  magnificent  pedestal  of  the  same 
material,  surmounting  a  massive  granite  plinth.  The  shaft  reaches  the  elevation  of 
twenty-two  feet  from  the  base,  and  has  the  significant  masonic  emblems — the  Holy 
Bible  and  the  compass  and  square,  boldly  executed  in  alto  relievo  upon  its  eastern 
slope,  while  three  sides  of  the  "  die"  are  occupied  by  appropriate  inscriptions. 
One  has  been  furnished  by  the  venerable  order  erecting  it,  commemorative  of  his 
masonic  virtues,  another  by  the  Church,  expressive  of  his  high  Christian  and  minis- 
terial character,  and  the  third  by  the  Few  and  Phi  Gamma  Societies  of  his  beloved 
college,  as  a  testimonial  of  respect  for  the  talent,  learning,  and  piety  of  their  first 
President.  Copies  of  the  inscriptions  are  appended  to  this  sketch. 
20 


306  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

his  energies  so  largely  contributed  to  evolve,  and  the  Church 
of  liis  choice,  whose  honors  he  so  meekly  wore,  and  whose 
doctrines  he  so  ably  defended,  will  record  his  worth  in 
living  characters  npon  the  tablet  of  the  hearty  and  hand 
down  hii  name  to  an  admiring  posterity  as  a  benefactor  of 
the  age. 

Ignatius  A.  Fkw  WBfl  a  Georgian  by  birth,  a  native,  and 
for  many  years  a  resident,  of  the  city  of  Augusta,  where  he 
drew  his  first  breath,  in  the  year  IT'.1".  His  educational 
training  was  partly  conducted,  but  not  completed,  in  Prince* 
ton  College,  N'  \\-  Jersey,  from  whence  he  removed  to  the 

city   of  New  York,    where   lie    prosecuted    his    studies    under 

private  instruction.  He  selected  the  profession  of  the  law  in 
which  to  display  the  powers  of  a  discriminating  and  culti- 
vated mind;  and  having  passed  his  novitiate  under  the  able 
training  of  General  F^ournoy,  of  Augusta,  then  in  the  zenith 
of  hifl  fame,  enteredJrorthwith  upon  the  arduous  duties  of  the 
bar.  IFis  progress,  as  might  have  been  anticipated,  was 
marked  by  high  success,  and  1m-  bade  lair  to  win  an  enviable 
distinction,  and  to  contend  in  honorable  rivalry  with  the 
ablest  legal  talents  of  the  day. 

But  an  interesting  event  in  this  period  of  his  history 
changed  the  whole  current  of  his  thoughts,  and  tamed,  for  a 
time,  his  young  ambition.  He  saw,  addressed,  and  married 
the  then  beautiful  ami  attractive  Miss  Carr.  The  hopeful 
advocate  was  soon  transformed  into  the  busy  planter;  and 
amid  the  quietness  of  his  rural  home,  near  his  native  city,  he 
remained,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  until  some  time 
during  the  war  of  1812,  when  our  southern  seaport,  Savannah, 
was  threatened  with  a  hostile  invasion  from  British  forces, 
and  he  received  a  Colonel's  commission  in  the  regiment 
appointed  to  its  defence,  a  position  to  which  his  tall  and 


IGNATIUS    A.    FEW.  307 

manly  form,  military  port,  and  fearless  independence  of 
character  admirably  suited  him. 

After  having  honorably  maintained,  until  the  establish- 
ment of  peace,  the  important  post  assigned  him,  he  returned 
to  resume  the  less  exciting  pursuits  of  civil  life.  Sprung 
once  more  by  the  impulses  of  a  laudable  ambition,  he  deter- 
mined to  occupy  no  common  place  in  the  ranks  of  his  profes- 
sion, and  therefore  bent  the  energies  of  his  clear,  strong,  and 
disciplined  mind  to  the  acquisition  of  an  extraordinary  stock 
of  legal  learning,  amplified  and  enriched  by  many  contribu- 
tions from  almost  every  department  of  literature  and  science. 
Unfortunately,  however,  that  dark  school  of  morals  whose 
masked  libertinism  cursed  the  age  of  the  French  Eevolution 
had  not  ceased  to  send  abroad,  through  popular  channels,  its 
skeptical  innuendos  and  plausible  dogmas  to  meet  the  public 
eye. 

A  critical  reader  and  ardent  adm' .  ™ .  as  he  was  of  the 
ablest  authors  of  the  day,  he  could  be  scarcely  otherwise  than 
captivated  by  the  commanding  talents  and  powerful  pen  of 
the  great  English  historiographer,  and  charmed  by  the 
versatile  genius  and  flowing  style  of  the  inimitable  French 
encyclopaedist — the  nonpareil  of  modern  writers  and  the  prince 
of  modern  infidels.  Imperceptibly  imbued,  therefore,  with 
the  gently  infiltrated  poison  of  these  moral  homicides  and 
their  gifted  compeers,  and  prompted  by  the  unsanctified  zeal 
of  a  prurient  philosophy,  he  pushed  his  metaphysical  in- 
quiries beyond  the  sanctioned  limits  of  reason  and  truth, 
until,  alienated  from  the  faith  of  his  fathers,  he  stood  toppling 
upon  the  brink  of  a  hopeless  Materialism,  and  shuddered  at 
the  gloom  with  which  his  own  temerity  had  environed  him. 

About  this  period,  by  a  mysterious  intervention  of  Divine 
Providence,  when  the  amplitude  and  resources  of  his  strong 


o"^  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCII1 

mind  were  opening  his  way  to  distinction,  and  fame  was 
weaving  professional  garlands  for  his  brow;  even  in  the  very 
hour  when,  surrounded  by  the  excitement  of  the  forum,  and  ' 
oil  the  eve  <>f  an  anticipated  outlay  of  intellectual  strength 
and  legal  Learning  before  a  judge  and  jury  of  his  country, 
hi-  engorged  Lungs,  sympathizing  with  his  over-taxed  and 
laboring  brain,  suddenly  gave  way  in  a  fearful  and  exhaust- 
ing hemorrhage,  which  was  the  rignal  of  his  retreat  from  the 
liar — tin-  ominous  precursor  of  future  sufferings,  and  the 
early  premonition  of  his  melancholy  end.    But  his  boasted 

in,  that  noble  faculty  which  he  had  so  highly  trained, 
and  on  whose  conclusioi  confidently  rested,  was  des- 

tined soon  to  he  challenged  from  an  unexpected  quarter,  for 
an  impartial  hut  momentous  decision,  involving  the  high 
claim!  i  Bevelation,  and  the  issues  of  eternity!  Frequent 
discharges  of  arterial  Mood  from  the  pulmonary  vessels, 
sometimes  alarmingly  rapid  and  profuse,  continued  to  occur 
through  the  several  subsequent  years  of  his  lite.  What  we 
ai\'  authorised  to  believe  was  the  Becond  attack,  however, 
was  attended  with  circumstances  of  peculiar  interest,  and  has 
been  detailed  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Travis  in  his  recently  pub- 
lished Autobiography. 
This  venerable  man  was  appointed   to  preside  over  the 

ohee  District,  which  embraced  the  city  of  Augusta,  in 
the  year  1822.  About  that  time  he  became  acquainted  with 
the  distinguished  Bubjeot  of  these  memoirs,  who  had  again 
taken  up  hi-  residence  in  that  city,  and  whose  characteristic 
kindness  and  courtesy  Led  him  frequently  to  invite  Brother 
Travis  to  vi-it  his  family  and  enjoy  its  hospitalities.  One  of 
these    polite   invitations,    extending   to    himself  and   wife, 

>ok  occasion  to  accept.  During  the  evening's  conver- 
sation,  the    Colonel    referred    to  his   recent    narrow  escape, 


IGNATIUS    A.    FEW.  309 

when  his  life  had  been  imminently  perilled  by  the  frightful 
paroxysm  of  hemorrhage  ajbove  described.  Family  prayers 
were  at  length  proposed,  to  which  he  readily  assented,  but 
without  conforming  to  the  kneeling  posture  common  to 
Christian  worshippers  on  such  occasions.  He  was  at  this  time 
believed  to  be  a  confirmed  infidel;  and  after  the  ladies  had 
retired,  and  a  favorable  opportunity  offered,  wTith  that  easy 
and  respectful  dignity  which  so  signally  marked  his  inter- 
course with  others,  he  introduced  his  favorite  theme.  A 
serious  discussion  commenced,  which  continued  until  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  Brother  Travis  remembered  that  he 
bore  the  crimson  banner  of  his  conquering  Leader,  and 
scorned  to  strike  it  to  the  tallest  son  of  Anak.  And  yet  such 
"skill  and  tact"  did  the  gifted  logician  display  "in  defending 
his  principles,"  that  Brother  Travis  frankly  declares,  "I 
wrould  rather  engage  in  argument  with  any  man  that  I  ever 
saw  than  with  Colonel  Few."  The  pious  minister  at  length 
determined,  however,  in  his  own  language,  upon  an  argumen- 
tum  ad  hominem,  and  asked  his  honored  friend  if  he  felt  no 
dread  of  death  when  the  blood  was  gushing  from  his  lungs 
and  the  pulse  of  life  was  waning.  He  confessed  to  some 
tremors  at  first,  but  said  that  he  soon  rallied  his  powers,  and 
all  was  quiet  again. 

Thus  closed  the  conversation;  and  they  had  but  just 
retired  for  the  remainder  of  the  night,  when  a  more  powerful 
appeal  was  made  to  his  noble  sensibilities  by  the  wisdom  of 
the  skies.  Providence  interposed  in  merciful  severity,  and 
Brother  Travis  was  suddenly  hailed  by  a  servant,  with  alarm- 
ing intelligence  that  the  Colonel  had  been  visited  with 
another  dreadful  paroxysm,  endangering  his  life  from  suffo- 
cation and  loss  of  blood.  The  languid  eye  of  the  sufferer 
met  Brother  Travis  as  he  entered  his  bed-room,  and  poured 


310  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

out  volumes  of  concession  in   the  gaze,  as  lie  speechlessly 
tided  to  him  hi-  pale  hand,  and  the  red  tide  streamed 
from  lii~  pallid  lips.    He  had  trodden  upon  the  frail  bridge  of 
I  with  which  an  illusory  infidelity  had  sought  to  span 

the  great  deep  beyond  the  death-room.  It  cracked  under  the 
approaching  weight  of  his  own  immortality,  and  his  startled 
soul  recoiled  with  horror  from  the  yawning  abyss.  Medical 
aid,  however,  was  instrumental  in  arresting  the  violence  of 
the  attack  and  averting  a  speedy  catastrophe,  and  he  became 
qui»t,   thoughtful,   and    submissive.      That    eventful   night 

-i  to  his   future  destiny.     And,  to  his 

rersation  with  Brother  Travis,  he,  in  after  lift-,  attributed 
his  incipienl  purpose  to  renounce  his  ruinous  creed  and 
acquaint  himself  with  <iod. 

•  tin-  work  was  not  vet  done.  II  -  active  and  vigorous 
mind  had  been  stirred  t<>  solemn  inquiry,  ami  began  to  seek 
honestly  for  truth,  but  for  several   succeeding  years  no  signal 

results  followed. 

At  this  interesting  crisis  in  his  history,  the  pungent  and 
unanswerable  "Appeal  to  Matter  of  Fact  and  Common  Sei 
by  tip'  Rev.  •'.  W.  Fletcher,  of  immortal  memory,  providen- 
tially mel  hia  eye.     Its  frankness,  boldness,  and  racinesa  of 
Mention;    ami  its  close,  consecutive  and 
convincing  argumentation  controlled  his  judgment  and  con- 
founded  his   trembling,  faltering  philosophy.     Ohl  what  a 
priceless,  hallowed  hour  was  that !     Memory  turns  back  and 
rts  tie-  scene.    Everlasting  destinies  an'  poised,  pendent, 
and  perilled  over  that  eventful  perusal.    By  vivid  association 
behold  him   now!     There    he    Bits,   grave,   thoughtful, 
U-bi  "/<</,  under  1 1  i ■  -  glowing  rhetoric,  overpower* 
Logic,   and    godly   zeal    of    the    saint-vicar   of  Madeley. 
His  heart  begins  t<»  feel  the  potency  of  the  blows  which  are 


IGNATIUS    A.    FEW.  311 

driving  in  the  out-works  of  his  crumbling  creed.  His  whole 
intellectual  and  moral  nature  reels  under  the  shock.  Un- 
covered and  confounded,  he  pauses  for  a  moment,  and  then, 
with  the  characteristic  magnanimity  of  his  noble  soul,  yields 
the  conquest.  Christianity  triumphs,  and  Reason — enlightened, 
subdued,  and  sanctified  Reason — learns  her  appropriate  sphere, 
and  reverentially  bows  to  the  authenticated  wonders  of  Di- 
vinity, never  again  presumptuously  to  try  her  adventurous 
wing  amid  the  dizzy  heights  from  which  an  archangel 
trembling  might  recoil.  Conscience,  too,  faithful  to  the  im- 
pulses of  heavenly  grace,  proclaims  his  moral  condition. 
He  finds  himself  an  alien  from  the  commonwealth  of  Israel, 
without  hope  and  without  God  in  the  world,  bends  the  sup- 
pliant knee,  lifts  the  penitential  eye,  and  offers  the  broken 
heart.  It  is  enough  !  Faith  throws  wide  the  gate  of  heaven, 
God  appears  in  pardoning  glory,  and  the  inspiring  light  of 
immortality  beams  around  him.  He  rises  a  rescued,  redeemed 
man,  meek  and  docile  as  a  child,  the  arrogant  philosopher 
transformed  into  the  pretensionless,  confiding  babe. 

A  soul  of  such  bold  proportions  and  exquisite  sensibilities, 
just  radiant  with  heavenly  light,  and  glowing  in  the  ardor  of 
Divine  love,  could  not  but  contemplate  with  admiration  and 
awe  the  sublime  revelations  of  Bible  truth,  and  the  grandeur 
and  glory  which  invest  the  Messiah's  cross.  Human  pride 
and  self-sufficiency  shrunk  reproved  under  the  august  exhi- 
bition, and  the  majesty  of  the  scene  left  its  ineffaceable  im- 
press upon  his  changed  and  child-like  spirit. 

This  happy  transformation  took  place  in  the  year  1826  or 
1827 ;  and  shortly  afterwards,  in  the  year  1828,  actuated  by  an 
earnest  sense  of  religious  duty,  and  under  a  profound  con- 
viction of  the  solemn  responsibilities  involved,  he  plighted 
his  vows  to  the  ministry  of  Christ,  and  entered  upon  a  new 


312  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

and  wider  career  of  usefulness.  Here  his  great  intellectual 
power  had  ample  scope,  and  his  natural  benevolence,  height- 
ened and  purified  by  his  spiritual  regeneration,  found  a  con- 
genial sphere  for  aetion.  But,  alas!  the  fatal  malady  which 
had  Bettled  upon  his  weak  and  lacerated  lungs  crippled  the 
energies  of  his  physical  nature,  and  often  embarrassed  the 
ition  of  his  holiest  purposes.  Still,  with  all  these  disa- 
bilites,  he  discharged,  for  many  years,  with  dignity  and 
usefulne.--,  tin-  arduous  duties  connected  with  many  respon- 
sible trusts  committed  to  his  car.-.  Idled  some  of  the  most 
important  stations  within  the  gift  of  his  Church,  and  occu- 
pied a  distinguished  plan-  in  her  highest  legislative  assem? 
blies. 

We  now  behold  him  in  the  entircnesa  of  hi-  manly  claims, 
remodelled  and  energised  by  the  spirit  of  Christianity,  his 
mental  and  moral  powers  in  full  play  and  heavenly  harmony, 
ready  for  the  toils  ami  trials  of  the  unrevealed  future.  YTe 
may,  therefore,  be  indulged  in  a  brief  analysis  of  his  natural 
racter. 

In  his  personal  relations  lie  was  affable  and  candid,  kind  and 
affectionate,  but  dignified  and  decided;  and  whether  in  the 
public  assembly  or  in  the  private  circle,  always  distinguished 
for  his  unaffectedly  easy  and  polished  manners,  courtly 
hearing,  and  unsurpassed  courtesy  and  refinement. 

"  Though  modest,  on  his  unembarrassed  brow 
Nature  had  written — Gentleman." 

Nor  did  he  ever  forfeit  his  claim  to  that  enviable  appellation, 
whether  he  mingled  with  the  retired  and  pretensionless  sons 
of  poverty,  or  moved  amid  the  refined  ranks  of  wealth  and 
fashion. 

lie  was  warm,  unsuspecting  and  confiding  in  his  attach- 


IGNATIUS    A.    FEW.  313 

ments,  and  admirably  retentive  of  acquaintances  once  formed 
and  friendships  once  contracted. 

As  a  scholar  lie  had  few  contemporary  superiors  in  any 
country.  Endowed,  as  we  have  seen,  with  a  native  mind  of 
capacious  and  noble  mold,  whose  active  powers  had  been 
gradually  but  thoroughly  developed  by  elementary  training 
and  subsequent  application ;  and  prompted  in  early  years  by 
a  generous  ambition  for  legal  and  literary  distinction,  he  fled 
to  his  study  as  the  sanctum  of  his  retired  hours,  and  there, 
surrounded  by  the  tomes  of  antiquity  and  the  garnered 
wisdom  of  modern  times,  his  patient  toil  collected  the  ele- 
ments 6f  all  that  wealth  of  thought  and  divinity  of  know- 
ledge which  in  after  life  so  brilliantly  marked  his  exalted 
career.  No  department  of  human  knowledge  was  a  stranger 
to  his  scrutinizing  research.  JSTo  vastness  of  theme  repelled 
the  boldness  of  his  pursuit,  no  minuteness  of  detail  foiled  the 
patience  of  his  inspection,  and  no  difficulties  of  fact  intimi- 
dated the  fearlessness  of  his  enterprise.  He  was  a  living 
encyclopaedia  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  and  always  held  at 
command  his  exhaustless  resources  for  the  contingent  claims 
of  life. 

Should  captious  criticism  herself  attempt  the  analysis  of 
his  mental  constitution,  she  could  only  suspect  his  generous 
nature  of  an  over-sanguine  confidence  in  the  pledges  and 
pretensions  of  mankind,  and  of  a  too  liberal  economy  in  the 
appropriation  of  limited  resources  to  carry  out  the  details  of 
his  comprehensive  plans. 

As  a  speaker  he  was  clear,  strong,  argumentative,  powerful, 
always  earnest  and  impressive,  and  occasionally  impassioned. 
He  could  not  think  confusedly.  Like  a  saline  solution, 
suddenly  shot  into  crystalline  form  by  the  presence  of  a 
nucleus,  his  subjects  instinctively  assumed  order  and  system 


31-4  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

under  the  very  touch  of  his  plastic  mind.  In  the  tournament 
of  debate  he  rarely  met  his  equal.  And  woe  to  that  adven- 
turer who  entered  the  lists  with  him  not  harnessed  to  the 
crown  and  unaccustomed  to  the  shock  of  logical  encounter, 
for  he  wielded  Damascus  steel,  and  under  the  flash  of  his 
blade  and  the  prowess  of  his  arm  many  a  gasconading 
knight  has  been  anhelmeted  and  unhorsed,  and  Left  the  undis- 
puted field  to  the  conqueror. 

Warmly  attached  to  the  ordinances  and  institutions  of  the 
Church,  he  Lent  his  great  ability  and  fervid  zeal  to  their 
maintenance  and  propagation;  and  the  polish  and  pungency 
of  his  polemical  powers  upon  great  ecclesiastical  questions 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  heard  him,  as  he  stood, 
in  184  I,  on  a  memorable  occasion,  y<  t  fresh  in  the  history  of 
the  past,  lung-worn  and  weak,  but  conspicuous  among  the 
talle.-t  minds  in  her  highest  ministerial  council,  fearlessly 
battling  for  the  ancient  land-niarks  of  liethodism  and  the 
rights  of  the  South,  while  reeling  fanaticism  recoiled  under 
the  potency  of  his  gladiatorial  skill. 

As  a  i  he  was  faithful,  zealous,  and  exemplary,  an 

able  theologian  and  critical  pulpit  analyst.  When  he 
ascended  the  Bacred  desk,  his  dignified  port,  calm,  solemn, 
and  collected  countenance,  intelligent  eye  and  open  brow, 
authenticated  his  credentials  as  an  ambassador  of  Christ,  and 
suitably  heralded  the  coming  solemnities  of  a  message  from 
Heaven.  His  voice  of  agreeable  intonation  and  moderate 
strength,  sometimes  swelled  into  greater  volume  as  he 
warmed  with  the  contemplation  of  his  subject.  On  special 
occasions,  when  profoundly  impressed  by  the  majesty  of  hia 
ion,  and  transported  by  his  vivid  apprehension  of  the 
Divine  goodness  and  glory,  his  fervent  spirit  the  meanwhile 
pouring  itself  out  in  "  thoughts  that  breathed,  and  words  that 


IGNATIUS    A.    FEW.  315 

burned,"  his  overtasked  and  shattered  lungs  have  suddenly 
sunk  under  the  burden,  a  hectic  cough  has  interrupted 
his  urgent  appeal,  and  a  captivated  but  sympathizing 
audience  have  been  left  to  pity  and  to  pray.  Alas  !  alas!  it 
was  the  imperial  bird  of  heaven  struggling  sunward,  while 
the  deadly  shaft  of  the  archer  hung  quivering  from  his  bleed- 
ing breast! 

As  a  Christian,  however,  the  attributes  and  graces  of  his 
mind,  perhaps,  shone  with  the  most  lovely  lustre.  Thoroughly 
disciplined  in  the  morals  of  Christianity,  and  deeply  imbued 
with  the  spirit  of  a  sound  piety,  he  luminously  exemplified,  in 
the  midst  of  harassing  trials  and  prolonged  afflictions,  the 
humility  and  forbearance — the  charity  and  patience  of  a  child 
of  God.  His  catholic  spirit  nobly  spurned  the  contracted 
limit-lines  of  bigoted  sectarianism,  and  walked  abroad,  in  the 
generousness  of  its  affections,  to  court  a  kindly  interchange 
of  denominational  courtesies,  and  receive  and  reciprocate  the 
warm  embraces  of  Christian  love. 

Thus  peaceful  and  pure,  surrounded  by  the  prayers  of  his 
friends  and  the  sympathies  and  respect  of  the  world,  he 
gradually  approached  his  final  hour. 

The  last  dreaded  hemorrhage  at  length  unstrung  his 
frame,  and  undermined  the  foundations  of  exhausted  nature ; 
but  the  religion  of  his  life  was  the  guardian  angel  of  his 
death,  and  surrounded  by  the  heaven  of  her  smiles,  with  the 
blushing  light  of  immortality  opening  upon  his  vision,  he 
bade  the  world  farewell,  to  take  a  loftier  rank  with  the  happy 
hierarchy  of  the  skies. 

Having  thus  rapidly  sketched  some  of  the  most  eventful 
changes  in  his  history,  briefly  analyzed  his  forceable  char- 
acter, and  witnessed  his  triumphant  end,  we  may  now  be 
permitted  to  recur  to  the  incidents  of  an  interesting  epoch, 


310  BIOGRAPIIICAL    SKETCHES. 

cherished  by  himself  in  grateful  remembrance  while  he  lived, 
and  destined  to  be  perpetuated  to  posterity. 

Daring  the  period  of  his  most  active  labors,  a  new  era 
opened  upon  the  history  of  the  Southern  Church.  Profoundly 
impressed  with  the  necessity  of  reviving  the  educational  spirit 
of  their  forefathers,  and  increasing  their  facilities  for  the  dif- 
fusion of  knowledge  through  the  widening  ranks  of  their 
ministry  and  membership,  our  people  were  ripe  for  the  move- 
ment of  Borne  Leading  mind,  which  should  go  forward  to 
evolve  their  Liberal  resources.  And  here  we  cannot  forbear 
to  remark,  that  injustice  has  been  dmie — foul  injustice — both 
to  the  origin  and  character  of  our  beloved  Methodism.  The 
misguided  and  the  prejudiced  have  Long  been  taught  to 
r<  _  ird  it  as  the  offensive  spawn  of  an  ignorant  and  super- 
stitious religionism,  or,  as  at  best,  but  the  Bickly  and  spoiled 
bantling  of  an  overweening  clerical  ambition.  Whereas,  if 
any  grei  I  iastical  movement,  within  the  la>t  three  cen- 

turies,  has  ever  been  peculiarly  characterized  in  its  incipiency 
and  early  progress  by  the  Lights  of  Learning  and  the  unction  of 
grace,  it  has  been  the  unexampled  reformatory  impulse  given 
to  the  Church  by  the  polished  and  powerful  founder  of  Method- 
ism and  his  erudite  coadjutors.  This  untimely  thing,  it  is 
true,  was  doomed  to  the  birth  of  the  illustrious  son  of  Amram. 
It  drew  its  first  breath  under  the  jealous  proscriptions  of 
power;  was  driven  from  the  places  of  pomp  and  patronage, 
where  the  pampered  Pharaohs  dwelt,  to  float  in  its  fragile  ark 
of  bulrushes  upon  the  threatening  waters,  until  the  God  of 
the  infant  on  the  Nile  restored  it  to  the  maternal  bosom,  to 
be  reared  to  vigor  and  manhood  by  the  wisdom  and  the 
learning  of  the  ablest  of  the  age.  The  Wesleys,  Fletchers, 
and  Cokes,  Watsons,  Clarkes,  and  Bensons,  who  graced  its 
early  years  by  the  contributions  of  their  literature  and  the 


IGNATIUS    A.    FEW.  317 

impress  of  their  piety,  should  for  ever  relieve  it,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  an  honest  world,  from  the  charge  of  a  vagrant  and 
illiterate  origin,  and  are  enough  to  confer  dignity  and  respect 
upon  any  progeny  or  protege  recommended  to  its  confidence. 
A  legitimate  descendant  of  these  patriarchial  guides  in 
literary  tastes  and  high-born  zeal  for  the  cause  of  God  and 
the  honor  of  his  Church,  our  distinguished  friend — ready  for 
the  task,  and  surrounded  by  willing  and  powerful  auxiliaries 
of  kindred  spirits — set  out  to  collect  and  arrange  the  materials 
for  a  literary  institution  of  elevated  rank,  and  in  obedience 
to  the  prevalent  sentiment  of  the  times,  incorporated  manual 
labor  as  an  essential  feature  in  its  organization.  This,  how- 
ever, after  a  sufficient  and  unsatisfactory  experience,  has  been 
subsecpuently  abandoned  by  the  Board  of  Trust,  and  their 
action  sustained  by  a  discerning  and  appreciating  public. 
This  High  School,  however,  with  a  proposed  endowment  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  did  not  still  meet  the  increasing  demands  of 
the  anxious  and  interested  friends  of  the  cause ;  and  although 
an  effort  to  turn  the  denominational  patronage  of  our  State 
to  the  Randolph  Macon  College,  Va.,  by  the  endowment  of  a 
Professorship  in  that  Institution,  met  with  his  able  advocacy, 
yet  such  was  the  impulse  given  to  the  cause  of  education  in 
the  South,  that  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  give  another 
direction  to  the  rising  tide,  and  invite  the  contributions  of 
our  people  to  the  establishment  of  a  liberally  endowed  College 
upon  our  own  soil,  and  under  the  direct  patronage  of  the 
Georgia  Conference.  Sustained  by  the  legislation,  aided  by 
the  counsels,  and  encouraged  by  the  contributions  of  that 
venerable  body,  among  whom  were  many  whose  fame  was  in 
all  the  Churches,  and  many  who  still  live  in  the  golden 
maturity  of  their  intellectual  strength  and  ministerial  reputa- 
tion, he  was  again  seen  in  advance  of  this  memorable  move- 


318  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

racnt,  and  pushed  on  as  the  pioneer  of  a  deathless  enterprise, 
whose  first  presence  in  the  lonely  woodlands  selected  for  its 
location,  was  consecrated  by  the  breathings  of  devotion  and 
the  voice  of  prayer;  and  whose  auspicious  career  within  a 
few  short  years  opened  up  the  surrounding  forest  to  the 
sights  and  sounds  of  bustling  industry,  sprinkled  the  beauties 
of  modern  Architecture  amid  the  oaks  and  evergreens  of  luxu- 
riant nature,  and  mingled  the  classic  melodies  of  Virgil  and 
the  thrilling  strains  of  Homer  with  the  warbling  minstrelsy 
of  the  wild  wood-bird,  and  the  monotonous  hum  of  the  even- 
ing 1  And  now,  after  the  lapse  of  twenty  years,  the 
lovely  and  picturesque  village  of  Oxford,  with  its  quiet  popu- 
lation and  its  crowning  College,  not  only  charms  the  passing 
stranger,  but  arrests  the  attention  and  secures  the  sympathies 
of  the  patrons  of  learning  and  the  friends  of  Methodism 
throughout  the  surrounding  States. 


IGNATIUS     A.    FEW.  319 

[Epitaph  by  the  Church.] 
I.  A.  FEW, 

FOUNDER  AND   FIRST   PRESIDENT 

OP 

E  MORY    COLLEGE, 

ELECTED   DEC.    8TH,    1837, 

ENTERED    UPON   HIS   DUTIES    SEPT.    10TH,    1838, 

RESIGNED   JULY   17TH,    1839. 

"MEMORIA   PRODENDA   LIBERIS   NOSTRIS." 

IN   EARLY   LIFE   AN   INFIDEL,    BECAME   A   CHRISTIAN 

FROM    CONVICTION;    AND   FOR   MANY   YEARS    OF   DEEP   AFFLICTIGN, 

WALKED   BY   FAITH   IN   THE   SON   OF   GOD. 

A   PROFOUND   THEOLOGIAN,    AND   AN   EARNEST,    ELOQUENT   PREACHER, 

WHOSE    SERMONS   AND   WHOSE   LIFE   AND    DEATH    EXHIBITED   IN 

BEAUTIFUL   HARMONY,    PROFOUND   WISDOM   AND   CHILDLIKE   SIMPLICITY, 

AND   HUMBLE   AND   UNFALTERING   CONFIDENCE  IN  GOD. 


[Epitaph  by  the  College  Societies.] 
I.  A.  FEW, 

VIVIT  —  NON     MORTUU8     EST. 

A   TRIBUTE   OF 

LOVE   AND   VENERATION   TO   EXALTED   WORTH, 
FROM  THE 

Few  and  Phi  Gamma  Societies 

OF 

Emory   College, 
sister  associations  who  thus  delight  to  honor 

the  MEMORY  OF 
THEIR  COMMON  FOUNDER  AND  PATRON. 


320  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCUL-. 

[HmsbIc  Inscription.] 

TnE   GRAND   LODGE   OF   GEORGIA 

ERECTS    Tills    MnNl  MKNT    IN    IOKBB    09    HIGH    REGARD 
FOR   A    deceased    BBOTBSB, 

[QNATH7S   A.   FEW, 

Who  departed  this  life  in  Athens,  Ga.,  Nov.  28td,  1845, 

a'. 1.1.  e>6  tbabb,  7  mnmii",  and  17  days. 

He  mam  bobi  Ann  Use,  1789,  in  Ooluybia  Coubtt, 

then  Tin:  OOUBTT  09  Richmond,   in  this   -tate. 

as  a  nabob  n  •  ai.i.  raora  bobli  traits 

of  character  wimcii  ooMmon  the  worthy  noma 

or  tiii-*  ukudi  and  eobobablb  obbbb, 

AS  A  B1B1BXBB  09  the  BOBVB&   BB   exemplified  THE 

IIE.UTIHI.    DK-iKllTDiN    09    THE    I'oET: 

"His  theme  divine, 
His  office  sacred,  his  credentials  ckar. 
By  him  the  violated  Law  ■poke  out 

It-  thunders  ;  and  by  him,  in  strains  as  sweet 
A-    '  I  pi  ice." 

As  a  Patbob  oi  Bduoatiob  and  Lbabbibo, 

his  00X9UBTJ .-.  r   n   -i  in    in   thi:   diii.dings 
which   this   BOBTOD 

As  a  PaTBIOT,  BB  was  among  the  hhst  OB  the  battle-field 

AT  nis  coi-.ntiiy's  cam.,   in  the  WAR  of   1812,    nOB   WHICH   IIF.  BBTDBBBD 

WITH    BOBOB,    To    BOBOB   THAT   001  NTRY   as   a   private    citizen. 

In  Private  Life  hi:  WAM   OKI  inoii-iied  for  the  amenity  of  ins 

manners,  the  warmth  nr  his  friendship,  his  high  social  yl'alities, 

and  his  varied  and  isefil  bbowl1 

Masons,  Christians,  Scholars,  Patriots,  and  Citizens, 

join  each  in  the  sentiment, 

"Care  vale!  scd  non  ctcrnum,  care,  valeto. 
Namque  iterum  tecum  Bim,  modo  dignus  ero. 
Turn  nihil  amplcxus  potcrit  divcllere  nostros, 
Nee  tu  marceses,  nee  lachrymabo  ego." 


MARTIN    RUTER.  321 


MARTIN   RUTER. 

BY    MRS.     S.    R.     CAMPBELL. 

Among  the  papers  of  the  late  Dr.  Ruter  was  a  manuscript, 
a  concise  Autobiography,  without  the  aid  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing sketch  would  not  have  been  undertaken.  It  is  given 
to  the  public  entire,  as  it  came  from  his  own  pen;  as  this 
form  of  biography  is  always  most  interesting  and  acceptable 
to  the  public,  and  is  especially  so  to  relatives  and  personal 
friends.  To  this  is  added  a  short  narrative,  interwoven  with 
tributes  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased,  and  testimonials  to 
the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  as  a  scholar  and  a  Chris- 
tian minister.  The  sketch  might  have  been  much  extended, 
but  it  was  judged  preferable  to  confine  it  within  somewhat 
narrow  limits. 

"I  was  born  in  Charleton,  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts, 
April  3,  1785.  My  parents  were  in  early  life  communicants 
of  the  Baptist  denomination,  but  afterwards  became  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  communion 
they  both  lived  and  died.  When  not  more  than  three  years 
of  age,  I  had  serious  impressions,  and  these  increased  with 
years,  until  1799,  when  I  resolved  to  devote  my  life  to  religion. 
In  the  autumn  of  that  year  I  experienced  the  pardon  of  sin, 
and  enjoyed  peace  of  mind.  In  the  following  winter  I  joined 
21 


"22  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  I  Lad  a  taste  for  learning 
and  a  thirst  for  knowledge  from  my  earliest  recollections. 
This  taste  I  cherished  by  improving  diligently  Buch  oppor- 
tunities as  T  had  of  private  studies  at  home,  and  in  attending 
schools  in  the  neighborhood  where  I  lived.  My  father 
being  poor,  was  unable  to  give  me  cither  a  liberal  education 

Or  those  academical  advantages  which  I  earnestly  desired  to 
obtain.  The  deficiencies  of  my  education  I  endeavored  to 
supply,  as  far  as  1  was  able,  by  my  own  industry;  and  in  these 
effort  'nued  through  B  course  of  many  years'  study,  I 

have  nol  been  altogether  on  i  ful. 

"It  sometimes  occurred  forcibly  to  my  mind,  even  before  I 

professed  n  Ligion,  that  I  should  be  called  to  preach  the 

.     After  experiencing  religion  these  impressions  in- 

d,  and  I  turned  my  attention  closely  to  the  study  of 

divinity. 

"In  the  summer  of  1800,  I  received  license  to  exhort,  from 
the  Rev.  John  Brodhead,  Presiding  Elder  of  New  London 
District,  which  then  embraced  certain  parts  of  Connecticut, 
M.  jsachusetts,  New  Hampshire,  and  Vermont.  With  him  I 
travelled  ah. »ut  three  month-,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving 
instruction  in  divinity.  In  the  autumn  of  1800  I  received 
to  preach;  and  during  the  ensuing  winter  and  spring 

I  travelled  under  the  authority  of  the  Presiding  Elder, 

onWethersfield  Circuit,  Vermont,  with  the  Rev.  John  Nichols. 
In  the  following  dune,  1801, 1  attended  the  New  York  Annual 
Conference,  in  i1  f  New  York,  was  admitted  on  trial, 

and  appointed  to  travel  with  Abner.Wood,  upon  Chesterfield 
Circuit,  lying  partly  in  New  Hampshire  and  partly  in  Ma--a- 
chusetts.  In  1802  I  was  appointed  to  travel  with  Phinehas 
Peck,  on  Landaff  Circuit,  New  Hampshire.  In  1803  I 
attended  the  New  York  Conference  at  Ashgrove,  was  or- 


MARTIN    RUTER.  o2o 

dained  a  deacon,  and  appointed  to  travel  alone  upon  Adams 
Circuit.  The  following  year,  1804,  I  received  my  appoint- 
ment to  Montreal,  Lower  Canada,  where  I  remained  (having 
visited  Quebec  during  the  time)  until  near  the  time  for  the 
sitting  of  the  New  York  Conference  in  1805.  I  then  attended 
the  Conference,  which  was  held  at  Ashgrove ;  was  ordained 
an  elder,  being  a  little  over  twenty  years  of  age,  and  ap- 
pointed to  Bridgewater  Circuit,  New  Hampshire,  having 
Benjamin  Bishop  appointed  to  travel  with  me.  This  appoint- 
ment transferred  me  to  the  New  England  Conference. 

"How  wonderful  is  the  providence  of  God,  and  how  great 
are  his  mercies  !  From  the  bosom  of  obscurity,  in  which  I 
drew  my  first  breath,  how  wonderfully  have  I  been  led,  step 
by  step,  unto  the  place  I  am  permitted  to  hold  as  a  member 
and  as  a  minister  in  the  Church.  Nothing  of  this  is  due  to 
myself:  I  have  been  a  most  unfaithful  and  unprofitable  ser- 
vant. By  the  grace  of  God  I  am  what  I  am ;  and  0  that  my 
whole  life  in  future  may  be  devoted  to  his  service ! 

"  In  1806  I  was  appointed  to  Northfield,  New  Hampshire, 
and  in  1807  to  Portsmouth  and  Nottingham.  In  1808  I  was 
appointed  to  Boston,  with  the  Rev.  Daniel  "Webb.  At  the 
sitting  of  the  New  England  Conference  for  this  year,  which 
was  held  in  New  London  in  April,  the  preachers  were  so 
convinced  of  the  necessity  of  establishing  a  delegated  General 
Conference,  they  resolved  in  favor  of  it,  and  elected  seven  of 
their  members  to  attend  the  General  Conference  to  be  held 
in  Baltimore  in  May  following,  as  delegates  to  that  body. 
Being  one  of  the  seven  appointed,  I  attended  the  General 
Conference,  which  was  the  first  in  which  I  had  ever  been 
present.  In  the  course  of  its  session  the  plan  of  delegation 
from  the  Annual  Conferences  to  the  General  Conference  was 
completed  and  established. 


324  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

"Li  1809 I  was  appointed  to  New  Hampshire  District,  which 
I  travelled  two  years.  In  1811  I  was  appointed  to  Portland, 
Maine;  and  in  1812  and  1813,  having  obtained  a  location,  I 
lived  in  North  Yarmouth,  preaching  in  that  place  and  its 
vicinity. 

'•Tin-  following  year,  1814,  I  was  readmitted  at  the  Con- 
ference  in  Durham,  and  appointed  to  North  Yarmouth  and 
port.  In  L815,  I  was  stationed  at  Salisbury,  in  Massa- 
chusetts; and  in  L816  attended  the  General  Conference  in 
Baltimore.  In  1816  and  1^17,  I  was  stationed  at  Phila- 
delphia. These  two  years  were  attended  with  severe  trials 
and  extraordinary  bl<  In  May,  1818,  the  Asbury  Col- 

.  in  Baltimore,  conferred  npon  me  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts.  This  year  I  was  appointed  to  the  charge  of  the  New 
Market  Wesleyan  Academy,  which  had  been  established 
tinder  the  New  England  Confenme.  In  1810,  I  was  ap- 
pointed  to  Portsmouth,  New  Bampshire,  but  remained  at 
the  Academy,  in  conformity  with  an  arrangement  made  by 
Pickering,  the  Presiding  Elder. 

n  !  [  attended  tl     G<      pal  Conference  in  Baltimore, 

and  was  elr.  •  |  B  '  A.  t,  to  conduct  tlie  Book  Concern 
lincinnati.  In  1824,  I  attended  the  General  Conference, 
and  was  reelected  to  the  charge  of  the  Book  Concern  at 
Cincinnati,  to  conduct  its  affaire  until  1828.  In  lv22.  with- 
out any  knowledge  <>r  anticipation  of  the  fact,  I  received  the 
degree  <>f  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the  Transylvania  Univer- 
sity, in  Lexington,  Kentucky 

14  During  the  eighl  years  in  which  I  had  charge  of  thePook 
Concern  in  Cincinnati,  I  conducted  its  affairs  almost  wholly 
by  my  own  persona]  efforts.  I  employed  no  clerk,  did  all 
the  writing  myself,  and  conducted  the  whole  business  with 
the  least  expense  to  the  Church  that  was  practicable.     In 


MARTIN    RUTER.  325 

attending  the  Western  Conferences,  and  in  other  necessary 
journeys,  I  travelled,  during  the  eight  years,  more  than  nine 
thousand  miles.  I  superintended  a  number  of  publications, 
and  managed  a  capital  of  more  than  sixty  thousand  dollars. 
At  the  close  of  the  term,  in  1828,  it  appeared  from  the 
accounts  of  the  Book  Agents  at  ISTew  York,  that  the  Concern 
had  gained  an  amount  of  about  seven  thousand  dollars. 
Believing  that  I  was  promoting  the  interests  of  the  Church, 
and  my  solicitude  for  the  prosperity  of  the  Concern  in  the 
"West  being  very  great,  I  used  the  greatest  exertions  in  my 
power,  and  made  as  many  sacrifices  as  my  situation  would 
permit. 

"  Before  the  term  of  my  agency  expired,  I  was  chosen  Presi- 
dent of  Augusta  College.  The  only  objection  I  felt  to  accept- 
ing this  appointment  was,  that  it  would  call  my  attention,  in 
some  degree,  from  the  more  immediate  labors  of  the  ministry, 
and  might  lessen  my  own  progress  in  Christian  experience. 
But  I  had  seen,  when  in  charge  of  the  New  Market  Academy, 
and  long  before  I  went  there,  that  the  Church  needed  semi- 
naries of  learning,  and  could  not  conduct  its  important 
interests  without  them.  I  saw  that  these  seminaries,  unless 
carefully  conducted,  would  not  accomplish  the  purposes 
intended.  I  therefore  accepted  the  appointment,  determining 
to  spend  a  few  years,  not  many,  in  seeing  what  might  be 
accomplished  in  this  way  for  the  prosperity  of  our  Zion.  In 
being  released  from  the  cares  of  the  Book  Concern,  I  felt 
myself  released  from  an  oppressive  burden,  and  have  felt 
thankful  to  that  glorious  Providence  that  guided  and  pre- 
served me  through  it.  I  now  saw  and  felt  the  approach  of 
other  new  and  very  responsible  cares,  but  felt  a  hope  that  the 
same  Divine  assistance  would  be  continued. 

"  Soon  after  the  General  Conference  of  1828,  which  was  held 


326  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

in  Pittsburg-,  and  at  which  I  was  Secretary,  I  removed  to 
Augusta,  in  accordance  with  the  advice  of  Bishop  George 
and  Bishop  Sodding,  and  took  charge  of  the  College.  This 
office  I  held  for  more  than  fonr  yean,  having  first  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  Trustees,  and  the  annual  appointment 
from  the  Conference  until  August,  1882,  when  I  resigned  it. 
In  May  of  this  year  I  attended  the  General  Conference  at 
Philadelphia.  At  this  time  I  felt  an  earnest  desire  to  be 
given  up  exclusively  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  X<>  honors, 
■  moluments  Beemed  of  value,  compared  with  the  great 
duties  of  preaching  the  gospel  ft*  Christ,  and  being  actively 
!  in  pointing  Binners  to  him.  My  resignation  at  the 
College  was  dictated  by  these  views,  and  some  objects  con- 
■  1  with  the  welfare  of  my  family,  but  the  Leading  object 
to  devote  my  time  wholly  to  the  duties  of  the  ministry. 

"About  the  time  of  my  resignation  in  August,  I  was  trans- 
ferred from  the  Kentucky  to  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  and 
stationed  at  Pittsburg,  having  Thomas  Drummond  for  my 
colleague.  This  year  was  distinguished  by  a  glorious  revival 
in  Pittsburg,  and  great  prosperity  to  the  Churcb  throughout 
the  boundaries  of  the  Conference. 

"In  July,  1838,  I  attended  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  held 
in  Meadville,  and  was  reappointed  to  Pittsburg,  having 
Peter  M.  Met  lowan  and  Hiram  <  tillmore  for  my  colleagi 

'•At  this  Conference  a  resolution  wi  1.  that  the  Pitts- 

burg Annual  Conference  will,  under  certain  arrangements, 
patronise  Alleghany  College.  By  a  vote  of  the  Conference, 
I  was  nominated  President  of  the  College,  and  was  accord- 
ingly appointed  by  the  Trustees.  A  new  embarrassment  now 
e,  in  reference  to  what  might  be  my  duty.  I  had  not 
only  no  desire  to  enter  again  upon  College  duties,  hut  I 
earn-  -•';.-  desiv  d,  at  least  in  reference  to  this  College,  to  be 


MARTIN    RUTER.  327 

exempted  from  undertaking  them.  My  "brethren  thought 
differently,  and  urged  to  me  the  importance  to  the  Church 
of  improving  the  opportunity  now  offered  in  securing  the 
advantages  of  a  good  College  for  the  benefit  of  our  people 
and  of  the  community.  I  therefore  consented  to  take  charge 
of  this  College  for  a  season;  and  near  the  close  of  my 
Becond  year  in  Pittsburgh,  in  June,  1834,  I  removed  to 
Meadville  for  the  purpose  of  entering  upon  the  duties  as- 
signed me. 

"  In  July,  1834,  I  attended  the  Pittsburg  Conference  held 
in  "Washington,  Pa.,  and  received  my  appointment  to  the 
College  and  Meadville  station,  where  I  now  am,  and  where  I 
must  remain  for  a  season,  perhaps  two  or  three  years,  until 
the  College  shall  have  acquired  a  degree  of  prosperity  and 
permanency  sufficient  to  secure  its  usefulness.  So  soon  as 
that  shall  be  accomplished,  it  is  my  earnest  desire,  and  I 
hope  I  shall  be  permitted  to  retire  from  Meadville,  and  enter 
on  duties  in  which  I  may  be  equally  useful,  and  enjoy  more 
extensively  the  comforts  of  Divine  grace.     In  the  mean  time, 

0  that  God  may  give  me  a  double  portion  of  his  Spirit,  that  I 
may  at  all  times  know  and  be  able  and  willing  to  do  my 
duties,  whatever  they  may  be.  Hitherto,  in  all  the  labors 
and  trials  of  my  life,  his  grace  has  been  sufficient  for  me. 
"Will  he  forsake  me  now  ?     I  trust  his  promise ;  and  though 

1  have  been  an  unfaithful,  unprofitable  servant,  my  hope  is 
that  he  will  enable  me  to  devote  the  remnant  of  my  days, 
many  or  few,  more  to  his  glory  and  pleasure  than  any  of 
those  I  have  already  enjoyed.  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Spirit,  through  all  time  and  all  eternity,  world 
without  end.     Amen. 

"M.  Kuter." 

.    "Meadville,  Jan.  10th,  1835." 


328  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

The  following  wae  afterwards  added: 

"In  August  of  1835,  I  attended  the  Pittsburg  Annual 
Conference,  and  was  elected  one  of  the  delegates  to  the 
General  Conference  to  be  held  in  Cincinnati  in  the  following 
May.  Having  received  my  appointment  for  this  year  at  the 
College,  I  returned  U)  Meadvillc,  and  continued,  as  usual,  my 
labors  at  that  institution.  The  College  was  rendered  pros- 
perous beyond  the  expectations  of  its  friends,  and  had  many 
pious  young  men  among  the  Btudenta  of  promising  talents. 

"In  May,  1886,  I  attended  the  General  Conference  at  Cin- 
cinnati, and  felt  an  earnest  desire  to  be  more  actively 
engaged  in  the  itinerant  work  of  the  ministry.  At  this  Con- 
ference I  offered  myself  ai  a  missionary  to  Texas,  to  go 

whenever  it  should  be  deemed  a  proper  time  fol  entering 
that  held  of  labor.  The  Superintendents  were  all  consulted 
on  the  subject,  and  all  agreed  in  an  opinion  favorable  to  tho 
enterprise.  It  was  believed  that  the  unsettled  condition  of 
the  country,  in  reference  to  its  political  relations,  was  not 
suitable  for  the  immediate  establishment  of  a  mission,  but 
that,  in  all  probability,  it  might  be  within  a  few  months. 
All  were  favorable  to  my  appointment,  when  tho  proper  time 
should  arrive. 

"I  returned  to  Meadville,  and  resumed  my  collegiate 
labors,  in  which  I  continued  until  the  following  June.  In 
April,  1837, 1  received  a  letter  from  Bishop  Bedding,  inform- 
ing me  that  I  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  the  mission  to 
Texas,  and  that  two  brethren,  namely,  Littleton  Fowler  and 
Robert  Alexander  were  appointed  to  go  with  me.  After  con- 
sulting with  my  wife,  and  deliberating  prayerfully,  I  d< 
mined  on  going  to  Texas,  according  to  the  appointment  I 
had  received.  Bishop  Hedding  had  calculated  on  my  leaving 
M(  adville  in  season  to  reach  Texas  in  the  autumn,  and  gave 


MARTIN    KUTEE.  329 

full  liberty  to  decline  going,  if  I  saw  any  cause  for  so  doing. 
It  appeared  to  me  a  mission  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Texas  and  to  the  Church ;  and  I  felt  a  strong 
desire  to  be  useful  in  that  distant  land.  In  July,  I  took  an 
affectionate  leave  of  the  trustees,  faculty,  and  students  of 
Alleghany  College,  and  of  the  citizens  of  Meadville,  and 
removed  with  my  family  to  New  Albany,  intending  to  leave 
them  there  for  a  few  months,  and  proceed  to  Texas  alone. 
Finding,  after  my  arrival  at  New  Albany,  that  the  yellow  fever 
was  raging  at  New  Orleans,  and  various  places  in  the  lower 
country,  I  delayed  a  few  weeks.  During  my  delay  I  visited 
Cincinnati,  Louisville,  Shelbyville,  and  Lexington,  and  held 
missionary  meetings.  In  all  these  places  I  found  the  people 
favorable  to  missions,  and  they  contributed  liberally  in  sup- 
port of  this." 

Here  the  personal  narrative  closes,  without  signature,  as  it 
was,  doubtless,  the  writer's  intention  to  add  an  account  of  his 
labors  and  success  in  the  mission  to  Texas.  But  the  sum- 
mons came : 

"  Tranquil  amid  alarms, 

It  found  bim  on  the  field — 
A  vet'ran,  slumbering  on  bis  arms, 
Beneath  his  red-cross  shield." 

My  recollections  of  my  sainted  father  are  still  vivid ;  and 
as  nearly  twenty  years  have  passed  since  he  left  us,  I  may, 
perhaps,  be  permitted  to  speak  of  him  as  of  another,  without 
the  imputation  of  undue  partiality. 

His  excellences  of  character  were  many,  prominent  among 
which  were  his  calm,  deliberate  judgment,  his  inflexible  in- 
tegrity, and  a  desire  to  do  good,  which  seemed  the  main- 
spring of  all  his  actions.  He  was  remarkably  alive  to  all  his 
responsibilities,    of   whatever  character,    ever    desirous    to 


330  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

acquit  himself  well  in  Lis  sphere  of  life  and  action.  As  a 
parent,  his  care  and  instructions  were  unceasing.  "Well  do  I 
remember  the  interest  he  manifested  for  my  welfare,  from  the 
first  dawn  of  recollection,  till  he  was  called  to  his  reward 
fn»m  the  plains  of  Texas.  This  watchfulness  over  his 
children  never   flagged — he   always  seemed  .  ,tinel  at 

the  post  of  duty.  And  however  multiplied  and  onerous 
were  his  public  duties  and  labors,  he  yet  found  time  for  the 
full  discharge  of  parental  obligation,  devoting  hours,  oft- 
repeated,  through  a  of  yean,  to  conversations  with 
them  on  the  Bubjects  of  religion,  morality,  science,  etc. 

His  concern  for  the  religious  welfare  of  his  children  was 
v. TV  great  I  often  Left  home  in  my  youthful  days,  for  brief 
or  longer  p<  circumstances  might  dictate,  but  if  for  a 

few  days  only,  my  father  was  the  last  at  my  Bide,  and,  with 
the  parting  adieu,  a  word  of  seasonable  warning  was 
whispered  in  my  ear,  such  as,  "Don't  forget  to  pray,"  or, 
"Don't  forget  that  you  have  named  the  Saviour."  Ko  one 
re  tremblingly  alive  to  the  temptations  that  encom- 
ing  pen  eciallythe  ensnaring  allurements  of 

gay.  fascinating  company,  and  the  entanglements  of  worldly 
pleasure;  hence  those  oft-repeated  admonitions,  which  were 
not  confined  to  personal  intercourse,  but  found  place  in  his 
letters  during  absence  —  tor  he  always  took  time,  amid  the 
ring  cares  of  business,  to  correspond  with  absent  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  with  a  view  to  continued  admonition, 
warning,  and  encouragement.  I  have  numerous  letters  of 
his  to  me,  now  lying  before  me,  scarce  one  of  which  closes 
without  some  word  "fitly  spoken,"  in  favor  of  religious  con- 
secration. In  one  of  them,  lie  says,  "I  hope  you  do  not,  for 
a  moment,  lose  sight  of  the  great  concerns  of  religion."  In 
another,  "You  have  now  time  for  meditation,  prayer,  read- 


MA  11  TIN    RUTER.  331 

ing  religious  books,"  etc.  In  a  letter  written  during  his 
connection  with  Alleghany  College,  he  writes  :  "New  Year's 
Day  was  the  commencement  of  our  Quarterly  Meeting,  which 
was  continued  for  two  weeks,  every  day  and  every  evening. 
Many  were  awakened,  and  I  think  much  good  was  done. 
About  fifty  have  been  received  on  trial,  many  of  them  excel- 
lent members,  and  some  are  students."  Some  months  after- 
ward, he  thus  refers  to  the  spiritual  declension  that  followed 
this  revival:  "Since  the  revival  here,  there  seems  to  be  a 
return  of  dulness  among  some  of  the  members.  This  often 
follows  revivals  of  religion,  though  it  need  not  be."  He 
thus  closes  another  letter:  "Do  not  forget  the  greatest  of  all 
concerns.  Time  flies ;  and  great  changes  await  all  the  liv- 
ing." I  was  from  home  when  the  cholera  first  commenced  its 
ravages,  and  in  one  of  his  letters  at  that  time  he  says:  "  The 
cholera  seems  to  be  all  around  us,  at  Erie,  Cleaveland, 
Chambersburg,  Cumberland,  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  and  Lex- 
ington. But  it  seems  useless  to  flee  from  it.  The  wise  course 
is  for  all  to  prepare  for  death,  and  put  their  trust  in  Divine 
Providence.  If  it  reaches  Augusta,"  (I  was  then  there,)  "it 
will  be  best  not  to  be  alarmed,  but  to  be  very  prudent  in 
diet,  and  in  keeping  from  the  night  air."  Such  was  his  care 
for  both  the  spiritual  and  temporal  interests  of  absent  mem- 
bers of  his  family. 

I  have  spoken  of  him  as  a  father:  as  a  husband,  it  is 
enough  to  say,  that  she  who  has  passed  nearly  twenty  years 
of  widowhood,  still  mourns  him  as  her  best  earthly  friend. 
He  was  twice  married.  Of  his  first  marriage,  a  daughter  and  a 
son  were  born  to  him.  The  latter  was  summoned  away,  with 
the  smile  of  infancy  still  upon  his  brow;  the  former  in 
the  bright  noontide  of  earthly  enjoyment  passed  to  her 
heavenly  home.     Of  his  second  marriage,  seven  out  of  eight 


S02  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

children  survive ;  tlic  other  one  sleeps  in  the  isle  of  Galves- 
ton. 

My  father  enjoyed,  in  a  high  degree,  tho  society  of  his 
friends  and  the  delights  of  social  converse.  He  was  pos- 
d  of  line  conversational  powers,  which,  united  with  his 
urbane  manners  and  genera]  information,  rendered  his  society 
much  sought  after.  Almost  every  subject,  whether  of  science, 
politic-,  or  religion,  was  sufficiently  familiar  to  him  for  the 
purposes  of  animated  conversation,  or  even  of  discussion. 
He  was  specially  gifted  with  taste  in  tin-  tine  arts.    Of  music, 

painting,    and    poetry,    he    WBfl    wry    fond;    and   though   ho 

.    other  than  sacred  music,  yet  odes  and  martial 

reat  charm  for  him,  especially  the  latter. 

Indeed,  calm  and  unimpi  lie  generally  appeared,  it 

the  triumph  of  grace  over  nature,  for  the  excitement  of 

politics  and  camps  would  have  been  quite  in  unison  with  his 

natural  f  B  .'  gnu  a  had  held  the  empire  of  his  heart, 

even  from  hisboyhood  day-,  for  he  was  but  fourteen  when  he 

1  d  religion;  and  from  that  time  to  the  close  of  life,  we 

have  no  intimation  of  religious  declension. 

Among  his  friends,  the  ministers  and  members  of  his  own 
Church  were  generally  the  chosen  ones,  as  was  most  meet. 
But  he  was  far  from  being  bigoted;  and  those  of  other  deno- 
minations and  literary  men  were  his  frequent  guests.  Ho 
was  fond  of  female  soe'nty,  regarding  woman  in  general  as 
entitled  to  superior  courtesy.  Many  of  the  gifted  and  pious 
among  them  will  long  rememher  him.  He  never  sought  con- 
troversy, hut,  both  with  his  pen  and  his  pulpit  efforts,  ho 
would  defend  the  doctrines  and  usages  of  his  Church  when 
led:  yet  it  was  f«.r  the  love  of  truth,  not  controversy ; 
and  that  his  motives  were  duly  appreciated,  is  shown  by  the 
fad  of  his  having  hcen  so  often  called  upon  to  minister  for 


MARTIN    RUTER.  333 

other  denominations.  Some  of  his  warmest  friends,  also, 
were  connected  with  other  Churches.  In  a  letter  to  me, 
dated  Meadville,  Pa.,  he  says  :  "Last  Sabbath  I  preached  for 
Mr.  "West,  (the  Presbyterian  minister  there,)  who  was  absent. 
His  congregation  appeared  much  as  they  were  when  I 
preached  to  them  last  fall.  I  have  engaged  to  preach  next 
Sabbath  for  Mr.  Crumpton,  (the  Episcopalian  minister  there,) 
who  will  be  absent  at  the  Convention.  As  we  have  a  full 
supply  of  ministers,  I  can,  without  difficulty,  labor  occasion- 
ally for  other  denominations,  and  hope  it  may  be  doing 
good." 

But  though  liberal  in  his  religious  views  and  feelings,  he 
was  yet  ardently  attached  to  Methodism ;  and  the  preachers 
found  a  cordial  welcome  at  his  house.  "Well  do  I  remember 
those  holy  men,  some  of  them  gifted  with  fine  talents,  others 
men  of  good  attainments,  and  all  of  them  zealously  devoted 
to  their  Master's  service.  Their  visits  to  a  household  were 
like  those  of  a  cherished  relative.  Kind  and  affectionate  in 
their  intercourse  with  the  children  of  a  family,  they  seldom 
departed  without  leaving  an  impression  in  favor  of  that 
religion  they  so  well  adorned.  Most  of  those  revered  men 
have  passed  away,  but  I  still  remember  them  and  their  sweet 
personal  exhortations  at  leave-taking ;  and  this  is  but  a  slight 
tribute  to  their  piety  and  worth. 

Few  men  performed  more  effective  service  in  the  itinerant 
ranks  than  my  father,  for,  entering  the  ministry  so  early,  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years,  he  had  travelled  twenty  years  when 
elected  Book  Agent;  and  during  his  connection  with  the 
Book  Agency  and  the  two  Colleges  over  which  he  presided,  he 
still  preached.  Indeed,  while  discharging  his  College  duties 
at  Meadville,  he  was  also  the  station-preacher  for  a  time.  lie 
was  self-denying  in  all  things,  not  counting  as  any  hardship 


334  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

the  renunciation  of  ease,  or  emolument,  or  worldly  pleasure, 
in  view  of  the  duties  and  rewards  of  his  holy' calling.  With 
him  his  ministry  in  the  gospel  was  always  foremost — all  else 
Becondary;  and  though  so  fund  of  literature,  in  its  whole 
range,  yel  all  his  attainments  and  reputation  in  the  republic  of 
letters  were  laid  a  consecrated  offering  at  the  foot  of  the  cross. 

A-  a  friend  he  was  true  and  reliable,  retaining  in  his  later 
year-  the  glow  of  l"Ve  and  kindly  sympathy  whieh  had.  in 
earlier  life,  hound  him  toother.-.  His  judgment  was  discrimi- 
nating, and  he  seldom  saw  cause  to  reverse  the  impressions 
he  first  arrived  at  in  reference  toother-.  Bis  quick  per- 
ception  of  character  often  surprised  me,  as  I  had  frequent 
occasion,  from  after-circumstances,  t<>  recall  the  few  words  he 
had  Bpokeo  of  some  chosen  friend  or  associate. 

Of  his  infamy  and  early  childhood  we  know  hut  little. 
The  Rev.  Abel  Stevens,  in  his  Memorials  of  Methodi.-m, 
iii  -peaking  of  him,  -.  .  KSome  time  in  the  summer  of  1799 
he  1"  of  the  justifying  grace  of  God.     There 

was  nothing  remarkable  in  hi-  first  experience,  hut  there 
was  ;i  Btability  and  gravity  beyond  his  year-."  J  have  said 
we  have  hut  little  account  of  his  very  early  years,  hut  we  do 
know  that  he  w.  1  with  a  pious  mother,  of  whom  the 

Rev.  Mr.  lv  "She  was  truly  a  mother  in  Israel;  and 

this  hut  coldly  -peaks  her  praise.      She  lived  within  speaking 

distance  of  Paradise,  and  kept  up  a  constant  communica- 
tion"—  a  unique  portraiture  truly,  as    honorable  a-   rare. 

The  influence  which  such  a  mother  exerts  upon  her  child's 
ternity  alone  can  unfold. 
Bui  whatever  attainments  lie  made  in  earthly  lore  were 
due,  under  Providence,  wholly  to  himself;  and  as  he  has 
said  but  little  of  his  literary  career,  it  becomes  necessary  for 
those   who   write  of  him   to  be  more  explicit.      His  early 


MARTIN    RUTER.  335 

advantages  were  very  limited,  scarce  a  crude  foundation  for 
the  superstructure  he  afterwards  raised  upon  it.  His  scho- 
lastic pursuits,  as  far  as  schools  and  teachers  were  concerned, 
were  abandoned  at  his  early  entrance  into  the  ministry.  But 
through  his  whole  after-life  he  was  a  close  student,  so  far  as 
circumstances  would  permit,  determining  to  supply  by  extra 
diligence  and  labor  the  deficiencies  of  earlier  years.  Many 
of  his  studies  were  mastered  on  horseback,  as  an  itinerant 
Methodist  preacher,  or  by  the  light  of  the  cabin  fire.  Under 
such  disadvantageous  circumstances  did  he  commence  that 
extensive  course  of  reading  and  study  which  was  never 
abandoned,  even  amid  the  laborious  service  of  maturer  years. 
He  was  uniformly  an  early  riser,  and  thus  commanded  the 
refreshing  hours  of  early  dawn  for  study,  meditation,  etc., 
and,  also,  gained  some  time  for  the  claims  of  courtesy.  But 
though  an  early  riser,  he  retired  late,  often  accomplishing 
after  supper  and  before  he  retired  to  rest  what  with  many 
others  would  have  been  the  work  of  a  day.  Besides  this  self- 
denial  in  reference  to  sleep,  he  was  very  systematic  in  the 
distribution  of  his  time.  Perhaps  no  one  fully  appreciates  the 
value  of  time  who  does  not  reduce  its  occupations,  more  or 
less,  to  a  system. 

My  father  was  not  only  familiar  with  English  literature 
generally,  but  with  the  classics,  both  ancient  and  modern. 
He  understood  the  Greek,  Latin,  Hebrew,  and  French  lan- 
guages, besides  having  so  far  mastered  several  other  languages 
and  dialects  as  to  be  able  to  translate  them.  He  was  also 
versed  in  both  the  pure  and  mixed  mathematics.  Of  the 
French  language  he  was  particularly  fond ;  and  having  had 
opportunities  during  his  early  mission  to  Canada  to  learn  the 
accent  among  the  French  themselves,  he  both  read  and 
spoke  it  with  more  than  usual  accuracy. 


ooG  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

As  early  as  the  year  1821,  lie  was  tendered  a  professorship — 
that  of  Oriental  literature — in  the  Cincinnati  College.  But 
though  literary  efforts  and  occupations  possessed  a  magic 
charm  for  him,  yet  BUch  a  situation  would  have  conflicted 
with  his  obligations  to  the  Church  at  that  time,  and  was 
therefore  declined.  He  was  also  elected  to  the  Presidency 
of  three  several   Colleges,  and  other  literary  honors  and  dis- 

tinctions  were  conferred  upon  him. 

His  literary  works  may  he  divided  into  two  classes,  viz. : 
the  finished  and  the  unfinished.  Of  the  former  are  a  Collec- 
tion of  Miscellaneous  Pieces,  a  small  duodecimo,  made  up 
of  selections  from  the  best  English  authors,  selected  with  a 
view  to  intellectual  and  moral  improvement;   Explanatory 

Notes  on  the  Ninth  Chapter  of  Romans;   A  Sketch  of  Calvin's 

Life  and    Doctrine;    A    Letter,  addressed  to  Rev,  Francis 

B       .11,  pastor  of  a  Church  in  North  Yarmouth,  containing  an 

v.r  to  his  I'  of  Calvin  and  Calvinism ;  The  New 

American  Primer;  The  New  American  Spelling-Book;  An 

Arithmetic;    A    Hebrew  dammar;    A   History  of  Martyrs; 

An  I.  itical  History;  Conjugation  of  French  Regular 

Verbs,  for  the  classes  at  Augusta  College. 

Among  the  unfinished  works  are,  A  Plea  for  Africa,  con- 
sidered principally  as  a  field  for  missionary  lahor;  Life  of 
Bishop  Asbury;  Sermons  ami  Letters  on  various  suhjects. 

Of  his  writings,  some  were  merely,  or  partially,  compila- 
tions, hut  the  majority  were  entirely  original,  and  he  has  care- 
fully distinguished  between  them.  His  connection  with  the 
two  Colleges  over  which  he  presided  was  not  matter  of  personal 
choice,  hut  undertaken  at  the  instance  of  his  brethren  in  the 
mini-try,  and  also  in  the  hope  of  thus  promoting  the  interests 
of  the  Church  of  his  choice.  But  for  the  satisfactory  manner 
in  which  he  discharged  his  duties  in  those  Colleges,  there  is 


MARTIN    RUTER.  337 

ample  proof.  Upon  his  resignation  of  the  Presidency  of 
Augusta  College,  the  following  tribute  appeared  in  the  Mays- 
ville  Eagle : 

"Dr.  Ruter. — This  gentleman  has  recently  retired  from 
the  charge  as  President  of  Augusta  College,  and  however 
adequately  his  place  may  be  supplied  by  his  enlightened  and 
amiable  successor,  it  is  due  to  Dr.  Ruter,  upon  retiring,  to 
say  he  has  served  the  Institution  with  ability  and  industry 
every  way  equal  to  the  expectations  of  his  friends  and  the 
public.  Dr.  Ruter  was  President  of  the  College  for  the  term 
of  five  years,  and  we  venture  to  say  no  man  ever  labored 
more  indefatigably  for  the  good  of  any  similar  enterprise ; 
and  his  zealous  and  ever-assiduous  efforts,  in  public  and  in 
private,  have  contributed  not  a  little  to  the  present  promise 
and  prosperity  of  the  Institution.  The  friends  and  patrons 
of  the  College  must  always  feel  themselves  deeply  indebted 
to  the  exertions  of  Dr.  Ruter ;  and  no  history  of  the  College 
can  ever  exist  without  honorable  mention  of  his  name.  It 
was  grateful  to  the  friends  of  the  College  to  hear  him 
declare  that  no  want  of  confidence  in  the  success  of  the  Insti- 
tution had  induced  him  to  resign,  but  a  conviction  that  he 
owed  it  to  his  family  to  do  so.  He  expressed  the  strongest 
confidence  in  the  prosperity  of  the  College,  and  in  its  ultimate 
success.  "Wherever  he  may  go,  the  best  wishes  of  numerous 
friends  in  this  region  will  follow  him ;  and  his  great  moral 
and  religious  wTorth,  as  well  as  varied  literary  accomplish- 
ments, entitle  him  to  the-  confidence  of  all  who  may  have 
occasion  to  seek  his  services,  either  as  a  minister  or  as  a  man 
of  letters." 

As  an  evidence  of  the  estimation  in  which  he  stood  with 
the  Trustees  and  Faculty,  it  is  just  to  add,  that  three  years 
after  his  resignation  of  the  Presidency  of  the  College,  it  was 
22 


338  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

again  tendered  to  his  acceptance  by  the  joint  invitation  of 
both  Board  and  Faculty.  lie  was  at  that  time  connected 
with  Alleghany  College,  but  was  even  then  maturing  mea- 
sures to  enter  more  effectively  the  itinerant  field.  Of  course 
it  was  declined.  To  his  continued  regard  for  the  welfare  of 
that  College,  his  correspondence  with  the  Trustees,  and  his 
letter-  to  absenl  members  of  the  family,  testify. 

From  the  impelling  force  of  circumstances,  he  afterward 
became  identified  with  the  Alleghany  College  at  Meadvillej 
Pa.,  and  there  remained  till  his  departure  for  the  mission  to 
Texas.  Dpon  retiring  from  the  Presidency  of  that  College, 
he  published  an  article  in  r<  ference  to  it,  from  which  we 
make  some  extra 

"It  is  now  almost  four  yean  since  the  Pittsburg  Annua) 
Conference  entered  into  an  agreemenl  with  the  Trustees  of 
I'  stitution.  The  Conference  held  its  session  of  1833 
at  Meadville,  and  the  agreemenl  was  made  between  the  two 
parties  for  the  purpose  of  resuscitating  the  College,  at  that 
time  without  a  Btudent  and  without  a  professor.  On  the 
of  the  T  tipulated  that  they  would  place 

the  College  under  the  patronage  and  direction  of  the  Con- 
ference, by  creating  vacancies  in  the  Board,  and  tilling  them 
with  Buch  persona  as  the  Conference  should  nominate,  and 
thus  provide  that  a  majority  of  the  Board  should  consist 
perpetually  of  that  nomination  and  their  successors.  And  it 
was  agreed  on  the  part  of  the  Conference,  that  on  those  con- 
ditions they  would  bestow  upon  it  their  patronage,  place  it, 
so  far  as  practicable,  in  successful  operation,  and  take  mea- 
sures for  securing  funds,  with  a  view  to  its  permanent  pros- 
perity. The  result  of  this  agreement  is  apparent  in  the 
Buccess  that  has  followed.  Perhaps  no  seminary  of  learning 
ever  advanced  more  rapidly  than  this  has  since  that  time. 


MARTIN    RUTER.  339 

It  has  liad,  for  each  year,  more  than  one  hundred  students — 
has  at  this  time  above  that  number — and  in  relation  to  the 
requisites  for  a  useful  Institution  it  is  more  prosperous  than 
at  any  former  period.  At  the  reorganization  of  the  College 
in  1833,  in  conformity  with  the  recommendation  of  the  Con- 
ference, the  Trustees  appointed  me  President  of  the  Faculty. 
For  the  purpose  of  meeting  the  wishes  of  my  brethren,  and 
desiring  to  contribute  my  full  share  towards  promoting  the 
interests  of  education  in  our  Church  and  country,  I  disre- 
garded my  own  inclinations,  and  accepted  the  appointment 
for  a  season.  Since  entering  upon  the  duties  thus  assigned 
me,  I  have  endeavored  to  meet  the  views  and  wishes  of  the 
Conferences,  (Pittsburg  and  Erie,)  and  of  the  Trustees,  and 
have  done  the  utmost  in  my  power  to  secure  the  permanent 
prosperity  of  the  Institution,  keeping  in  view  the  entire  suc- 
cess of  all  its  departments,  and  the  welfare  of  the  students. 
But  it  has  been  my  uniform  intention,  and  so  expressed  to 
the  Conferences,  to  labor  in  a  different  sphere  of  usefulness, 
whenever  I  could  retire  from  the  College  without  any  injury 
to  its  interests.  Believing  I  can  now  do  this,  leaving  the 
different  departments  in  the  care  of  an  able  and  diligent 
successor  and  a  talented  Faculty,  and  finding  a  door  opened 
for  me  to  enter  on  other  labors,  probably  as  useful  to  the 
Church  as  any  I  could  undertake,  it  seems  expedient  that  I 
should  follow  the  openings  of  Providence.  In  taking  leave 
of  this  flourishing  seminary  of  learning,  many  interesting 
seasons  of  agreeable  associations  recur  to  my  remembrance. 
I  trust  its  usefulness  in  the  diffusion  of  science  among  the 
youth  of  our  land  will  be  long  continued,  that  many  who 
enjoy  its  advantages  will  become  stars  in  the  literary  and 
Christian  world,  and  that  the  blessings  of  Heaven  may  rest 
upon  its  friends  and  patrons." 


340  BIOGKAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

From  this  time  ho  considered  himself  as  more  fully 
identified  with  the  regular  work  of  the  ministry,  and  com- 
pleted the  necessary  arrangements  for  departing  on  his  mission. 

lie  arrived  in  Texas  toward  the  last  of  November,  1837, 
and  immediately  commenced  his  arduous  and  self-denying 
labors.     He  had  counted  the  cost,  and  carried  with  him  the 

burning  seal  and  devotion  of  the  Christian  soldier  and 
martyr.  True,  he  was  m>t  -ailed  to  wear  the  martyr's  crown, 
for  he  was  received  everywhere  with  cordial  welcome.  In- 
deed, BO  great  was  the   eag.i-m.-s  of  the  people    for  the  word 

of  life,  that  he  felt  impelled  to  severer  toil  than  consisted 

with    prudence.      Hut    his  whole    heart  was    in    the   Work,  and 

with  the  Bteadfa  of  faith  he  Looked  confidently  to  the 

aeration  of  the  Republic.     Hi-  journal,  as  kept 

by  himself  during  his  sojourn   there,   not.--,   day  by  day,  his 

labors,  from  the  beginning  of  each  month  to  itselose.  Scarce 
adaywa  |  1  except  in  active  Bervice.  Here  U  a  tran- 
I  I  from  his  journal,  for  one  month,  the  first,  a.-  an  illustra- 
tion of  hi-  conformity  to  the  injunction,  "Redeeming  the 
time:" 

"Crossed  the  Babineon  the  23d  Nov.,  ls.TT.  Tarried  for  the 
night  at  <  lam. •-'.-,  where  I  tnel  Brother  Alexander.  Friday,  24. 
B  Le  to  Ban  A  igustine,  and  preached  to  a  small  assembly  in 
a  6chool-hou.---.  Saturday,  26.  Rode  to  [ngleduve's  house, 
within  eight  miles  of  Nacogdoches.  Sabbath  morning,  26. 
Rode  to  Nacogdoches  and  preached  two  sermons  in  the 
Masonic  Hall,  to  an  attentive  congregation.  Continued  my 
journey,  and  on  Wednesday  evening  reached  Mr.  Mitchel's 
Lous.-  and  preached.  Continued  my  journey  until  Friday, 
Dec.  1,  when  I  reached  Washington  on  the  Brazos,  and 
preached  in  the  evening,  at  a  school-house,  to  an  attentive 
audience.      On   Saturday,  2,  preached   again.      Sunday,  3. 


MARTIN    RUTER.  841 

Attended  Sabbath-school  and  addressed  the  children  and 
teachers ;  heard  a  Baptist  preacher,  by  the  name  of  Morrell, 
at  eleven  o'clock,  and  preached  at  three  to  an  attentive 
audience,  then  met  the  class,  and  received  one  into  Society. 
Felt  encouraged  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  0,  may  Christ's 
kingdom  rapidly  advance  in  Texas !  Amen.  Monday,  4. 
Rode  thirty  miles  in  going  to  a  Mr.  Foster's,  (twenty-two,) 
by  losing  my  way.  Tuesday,  5.  Rode  to  Rev.  J.  "W.  Kenny's, 
five  miles,  and  to  Mr.  Ayres's,  five  miles.  Wednesday,  6. 
Rode  again  to  Mr.  Kenny's.  Thursday,  7.  To  San  Felipe. 
Friday,  8.  To  Mercer's  neighborhood,  on  the  Colorado.  This 
ride  was  through  a  thirty-five  miles  prairie,  amidst  heavy  rains. 
Saturday,  9.  Preached  in  the  evening  at  Captain  Hurd's. 
Sabbath,  10.  Preached  in  the  same  place  at  eleven,  and  at 
three  to  the  blacks,  twelve  in  number.  At  candlelighting 
heard  Brother  Kenny  preach,  then  met  a  few  in  class,  and 
formed  a  Society  of  nine  members.  Monday,  11.  Went  to 
Fort  Bend,  over  a  prairie  of  thirty-six  miles.  Tuesday,  12. 
Very  difficult  travelling,  on  account  of  a  violent  storm. 
Went  seven  miles  to  Dr.  Hunter's,  and  put  up  until  Wednes- 
day morning.  On  Wednesday,  13,  came  to  Houston,  twenty- 
five  miles ;  here  remained  a  week,  became  acquainted  with 
the  place,  people,  members  of  the  Legislature,  officers,  etc. 
Sunday,  17.  Preached  in  Congress  Hall,  morning  and  night. 
Afternoon,  had  a  meeting  with  Brother  Fowler  and  others, 
with  a  good  congregation,  to  form  a  Sunday-school  Society, 
and  succeeded  remarkably  well.  Wednesday,  20.  Went  to 
Cartwright's.  Thursday,  21.  Went  to  San  Felipe,  and  put 
up  with  Rev.  Henry  Mathews,  M.  D.  Friday,  22.  Rode  to 
Rev.  J.  W.  Kenny's,  through  the  prairie  lands,  against  a 
north  wind.  Saturday,  23.  Visited  Brother  D.  Ayres,  and 
returned." 


342  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

This  extract  comprises  a  pretty  heavy  amount  of  service  for 
one  month,  in  travelling,  preaching,  forming  Sabbath-schools, 
meeting  classes,  arranging  societies,  etc,  and  yet  the  other 
four  months  he  Bpent  there,  up  to  the  time  of  his  sickness, 
were,  probably,  even  more  laborious.  This  voluntary,  offer- 
ing of  himself  as  a  missionary  to  Texas,  was  solely  from  the 
impulse  of  Christian  duly — a  desire  to  Bpread  the  savor  of  his 
Afasu  r's  name.  Few  mni  moiv  fully  appreciated  the  enjoy. 
ments  of  home.  Of  this  his  numerous  Letters,  when  absent 
from  the  family,  give  abundant  evidei 

In  one  of  his  Letters  from  Texas,  after  speaking  of  the 
country,  he  Bays:  "I  came  here  to  bring  the  gospel  to  a  des- 
titute land,  and  eannot  be  disappointed  in  it  BS  a  field  of  labor. 
If  I  make  a  future  home  for  my  family  here,  it  will  be  to  do 

1,  not  to  make  a  fortune,  or  to  enjoy  earthly  comforts. 
And  if  they  come  here,  I  trust  they  will  be  useful  also,  and 
that  they  will  content  themselves,  as  I  do,  with  the  hope  of 
doing  good.  The  missionary  -  meet  with  much  encourage- 
ment here.  My  districi  is  the  whole  Republic  of  Texas;  so 
IT  field  of  labor  i  . 
In  another  he  .  ■  "  '  went  to  the  Colorado,  and  am  the 
first  travelling  preacher  that  ever  reached  it-  Bhores.  I  went 
up.  to  Bastrop:  some  of  the  old  inhabitants  said  it  was 
dun  _  people  were  perishing  for  lack  of  know- 

aje  in  that  vicinity,  and  I  determined  to  visit  them.  I 
.-pent  a  Sabbath  there,  preached  and  formed  a  Society  of 
fifteen  members,  and  returned  without  being  molested.  On 
the  route,  we  travelled  thirty  miles  or  more  without  seeing  a 
habitation;  and  saw  in  that  Bpace  BUI  of  persons  whom 

the  Imlians  had  killed  and  robbed.  You  see  how  God  pro- 
tected us.  I  felt  not  the  least  alarm,  and  was  confident  we 
6hould  be  protected  by  the  Divine  Being.     I  cannot  regret 


MARTIN    RUTER.  343 

coming  to  Texas.  I  am  convinced  I  could  hardly  have  done 
so  much  for  our  Zion  in  any  other  way.  I  have  travelled, 
since  I  came  here,  about  one  thousand  two  hundred  miles  on 
horseback.  I  hope  to  have,  by  next  April,  a  good  founda- 
tion for  Methodism  in  Texas ;  but  all  depends  on  the  aid  of 
a  glorious  Providence.  From  present  appearances,  I  think  it 
was  time  to  commence  missionary  labors  here,  and  I  rejoice  in 
the  glorious  privilege  of  doing  good  among  the  destitute,  who 
are  glad  and  anxious  to  hear  the  gospel  preached.  If  I  make 
a  home  in  Texas,  or  return  here  again  after  spending  the 
summer  in  the  North,  I  must  try  to  get  some  churches  built, 
some  school-houses  commenced,  and  have  a  foundation  laid 
for  a  college,  and  also  have  an  abundance  of  tracts,  Bibles, 
and  other  books  scattered  over  the  country." 

To  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Missionary  Society 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  he  wrote : 

"  Texas  is  a  country  where  darkness,  ignorance,  and  super- 
stition have  long  held  their  dominion.  Profaneness,  gaming, 
and  intemperance  are  prevailing  vices  against  which  we 
have  to  contend.  The  scattered  state  of  the  population 
renders  it  necessary  to  travel  far  between  the  appointments, 
and  the  want  of  convenient  places  for  public  worship  serves 
to  increase  the  obstacles  in  our  way ;  yet  amidst  difficulties, 
dangers,  and  sufferings,  we  rejoice  in  being  able  to  say  that 
the  great  Redeemer's  kingdom  is  rising  in  this  distant  and 
destitute  land.  I  have  just  returned  from  Bastrop,  one  of 
the  upper  settlements  on  the  Colorado  river,  where  the  inhabit- 
ants informed  me  that  they  had  had  but  three  sermons 
preached  among  them  during  the  last  three  years.  In  coming 
to  this  place,  we  passed  through  a  part  of  the  country  not 
inhabited,  but  occasionally  infested  by  Indian  robbers  who 
come   on  horseback  from  the   north,  (travelling  either  by 


344  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

night  or  in  the  forests,)  for  the  purpose  of  stealing  horses, 
and  murdering  and  plundering  travellers  whom  they  may 
fiud  unarmed.  I  went  in  company  with  three  friends,  armed 
with  rifles.  We  DOW  reckon  four  Circuits  in  Texas,  namely, 
Houston,  Washington,  Trinity,  an.l  Ban  Augustine.  These 
we  are  trying,  with  the  aid  of  Local  preachers,  to  supply  aa 
well  able.     Bui  we  are  greatly  in  need  of  more 

laborers  in  this  interesting  vineyard.  It  has  appeared  to  me 
that  we  ought,  as  Boon  as  practicable,  to  establish  in  this  Re- 
public a  well-endowed  University  and  several  subordinate 
schools  of  different  gradations.  In  two  or  three  places,  sub- 
scriptions have  been  offered  sumcienl  for  buildings ;  ami  to 
provide  permanenl  funds,  we  propose  obtaining  donations 
in  land.     Many  of  the  citizens  ar<  ive  landholders, 

and  would,  while    lands   are  cheap,  make  large  Subscriptions. 

But  as  lands  are  rising  in  value,  a  fund  thus  invested  would 
in  a  short  time  be  sufficient  for  the  above  purposes.  "We 
propose  to  pursue  a  similar  course  in  obtaining  grounds  for 
churches  and  parson  1  have  been  hitherto  prevented 

from  visiting  Bexar  and  its  vicinity,  as  r  had  intended;  hut 
it  seems,  in  some  instances,  more  needful  to  Bupply  and 
occupy  places  which  we  have  explored,  than  to  explore  others 
which  we  cannol  occupy." 

In  a  letter  to  his  wife,  dated  February  13,  1838,  he  says, 
referring  to  the  rumors  that  the  Mexicans  and  Indians  were 
preparing  to  invade 

"It  is  pretty  well  ascertained  that  the  Mexicans  are 
making  no  preparations  for  invading  Texas.  They  aro 
broken  and  divided  among  themselves,  are  very  poor  and 
:tute  of  means,  have  but  little  courage,  and  most  of  their 
peasantry  are  in  as  great  bondage  to  the  wealthy  as  are  the 
Russian   or  Irish  peasants.      If   no   other   nation    meddles 


MARTIN    RUTER.  345 

with  Texas  besides  Mexico,  I  am  convinced  there  is  now 
nothing  to  fear.  The  present  prospects  of  Texas  are  very 
encouraging.  The  only  present  danger  is  from  the  Indians. 
They  do  not  attempt  any  warfare,  but  come  down  in  a  sly 
manner  from  the  wilderness  of  the  Red  river  in  small  parties, 
for  the  purpose  of  robbing  and  stealing  horses.  They  travel 
either  by  night  or  in  the  woods,  and  lie  in  wait  in  thickets, 
shoot  travellers  that  are  alone  or  without  arms,  rob  them  of 
whatever  they  wish  to  take,  go  in  the  night  to  yards  or  pas- 
tures and  steal  horses,  and  then  flee  to  their  distant  villages 
in  the  wilderness.  It  is  only  near  the  Colorado,  and  in  the 
northern  part  of  Texas  beyond  it,  that  they  commit  these 
depredations.  I  have  been  twice  to  the  Colorado.  The  first 
time  I  went  so  far  down  as  to  reach  it  below  where  the 
Indians  are  ever  seen.  The  second  time  was  three  weeks 
ago.  I  went  up  to  Bastrop  through  the  range  where  these 
wandering  Arabs  most  resort.  Three  men,  armed  with  rifles 
and  well  equipped,  offered  to  accompany  me,  and  we  all  went 
together.  I  carried  no  arms  myself.  "When  the  Indians  see 
three  or  four  with  rifles,  they  generally  let  them  alone.  But 
you  see  how  much  we  had  Divine  protection.  I  travelled 
through  quietly,  and  felt  not  the  least  alarm.  The  mission 
to  Texas  is  sure,  I  think,  to  be  successful.  We  have  on  this 
subject  great  encouragement,  and  I  believe  we  are  laying  the 
foundation  for  a  glorious  superstructure." 

In  a  letter  of  earlier  date  to  his  wife,  he  says  :  "You  men- 
tion that  many  people  are  anxious  to  know  what  I  say  of 
Texas.  I  came  here  chiefly  for  moral  purposes,  and  did  not 
intend  to  say  much  on  other  things,  but,  for  the  satisfaction 
of  those  who  may  inquire,  I  will  mention  a  few  things.  The 
advantages  this  country  offers  consist  chiefly  in  the  abun- 
dance and  cheapness  of  good  land,  and  in  the  mildness  of  the 


340  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCUES. 

climate.  There  is  abundance  of  wild  grass,  good  for  pastur- 
ing, and  of  wild  game.  The  sweet  potatoes  here  are  larger 
and  better  than  I  ever  say  anywhere  else.  Any  poor  person 
may  live  wel]  here,  it*  he  is  industrious.  Many  that  come 
here  are  not  industrious,  and  do  not  succeed  so  "well  as  they 
might.  Others  come  here  and  do  remarkably  well.  Lands 
that  ran  be  obtained  for  one  dollar  per  acre  will,  probably, 
in  three  years  1"'  worth  ten.  At  present  the  people  are 
Buffering  many  privations  oo  account  of  losses  incurred  by 
the  war,  and  on  account  of  the  newness  of  the  country.  The 
inhabitants  live  in  a  scattered  condition,  and  far  from  each 
other.  Bui  the  tide  of  emigration  is  so  great,  that  soon  they 
will  have  a  more  dense  population.  Churches  and  sehools 
much  wanted  everywhere  ." 

We  extract  the  following  from  a  letter  to  the  Eb  7.  Wm.  II. 
Raper,  of  date  March  10,  18'3s  from  Egypt,  on  the  Colorado: 

"Under  many  disadvantages  the  glorious  work  of  God  is 
advancing,  and  thousands  are  not  only  willing  hut  eager  to 
the  word  of  salvation.     We  have  already  formed  twenty 
societies    in   T<  cas,   have    obtained  a  number  of  lots  for 
churches  and  Bchool-ho  nred  by  deeds,  and  several 

tang-hou  commenced,  with  a  prospect  of  being 

soon  completed.  I  trust,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  lay  the  foun- 
dation for  a  glorious  superstructure,  and  that  the  Church  of 
Christ  will  be  here  established  in  its  purity,  power,  and 
glory.  I  have  now  travelled  ahovc  fifteen  hundred  miles  in 
this  distant  and  destitute  land,  over  its  prairies  and  forests, 
and  Btreams  of  water.  On  some  of  the  large  prairies 
travel  a  whole  day,  and  might  travel  in  some  directions 
.  without  seeing  a  house  or  human  being.  But  the 
wild  beasts  and  fowls  are  seen  in  great  numbers,  and  often 
seem  almost  as  tame  as  domestic  animals.     Texas  is  well 


MARTIN    RUTER.  347 

adapted  for  the  industrious  poor,  and  multitudes  seem  to  be 
aware  of  it,  and  are  coming  to  it  in  large  numbers.  Indeed, 
the  rich,  the  poor,  the  pious,  and  the  impious,  seem  deter- 
mined on  making-this  their  home."  Speaking  of  the  prairies 
he  says :  "As  on  the  ocean,  the  horizon  is  formed  by  the 
union  of  the  blue  sky  with  the  smooth  surface ;  and  when 
clothed  with  the  verdure  of  spring,  spangled  with  the  richest 
flowers,  and  brightened  with  the  sunbeams  of  heaven,  it 
seems,  indeed,  a  fit  place  for  the  assemblies  of  angels ;  no 
human  voice,  no  hum  of  business,  the  world  shut  out  as  out 
of  a  closet.  But  who  can  doubt  that  God  is  there  ?  Who 
that  is  devout  can  fail  to  experience  his  presence,  and  to 
enjoy  communion  with  the  Divine  Spirit  ?  When  the  prairie 
is  wrapped  in  the  terrors  of  a  storm,  the  scene  is  greatly 
changed :  still,  God  is  there,  and  he  that  trusts  in  him,  though 
far  from  any  covert,  may  quietly  and  joyfully  witness  the  war 
of  raging  elements." 

In  a  letter  to  me,  January  9,  1838,  he  says:  "I  have  just 
returned  from  a  neighborhood  lying  fifteen  or  twenty  miles 
from  this  place,  [Washington,]  one  part  of  which  is  called 
Independence.  The  inhabitants  are  generally  in  good  cir- 
cumstances, and  some  are  wealthy.  I  found  them  ready  to 
hear  preaching,  and  some  urged  me  to  think  of  that  place 
for  the  residence  of  my  family,  as  they  seem  to  take  it  for 
granted  that  I  shall  remove  to  Texas.  It  is,  in  some  respects, 
the  most  beautiful  place  I  have  ever  seen.  It  consists  of 
rolling  prairies,  and  on  some  of  them  the  prospect  is  very 
grand.  I  presume  the  horizon,  in  some  directions,  is  from 
thirty  to  fifty  miles,  and  very  distant  in  every  direction.  It 
seems  almost  like  the  vast  ocean.  In  the  spring  these  rolling 
lands  are  not  only  green  with  grass,  but  covered  with  flowers, 
and  are  said  to  appear  like  enchanted  grounds.     They  have 


348  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

a  charter  for  an  academy,  ami  are  desirous  of  a  female  aca- 
demy fir-st.  This  neighborhood  and  Bastrop  on  the  Colorado 
arc  two  places  which  I  have  thought  might  be  kept  in  view, 
if  we  all  come  to  Texas.  Washington,  where  I  now  am,  will 
soon  be  a  place  of  some  importance  in  business,  but,  being 
shut  in  by  forests,  is  not  so  desirable  a  spot.  The  country 
generally,  on  the  Colorado,  is  said  to  be  very  fine.  Beyond 
it  is  the  San  Antonio  country,  said  to  be  the  most  brilliant 
pari  of  Texas,  but  it  has  but  few  settlements,  though  the  city 
of  Bexar  (pronounced  Bahar)  is  in  tin-  midst  of  it,  having 
two  or  three  thousand  inhabitants.     I  expect,  next  week,  to 

Bastrop,  and  proceed  above  it  about  forty  miles  up  the 
C     irado,  which  I  am  told  is  ae  tar  as  I  can  go  palely,  on 

ml  of  Indians;  but,  s<>  far,  tiny  have  expressed  a  desire 
for  preaching,  and  T  shall  form  a  circuit  to  include  them. 
T      emigrants  are  generally  aiming  at  the  Colorado,  and  will 

form  upon  its  hanks  a  dense  population.    I  have  been 

i  Dear  to  the  mouth  of  it,  but  the  country  there  is  not  so 
healthful  as  farther  north.     The  Colorado  is  a  beautiful  river, 

not  much  larger  than  French  Creek,  but  seems  deeper.  The 
rivers  in  Texas  are  all  comparatively  small,  though  high  and 

in  the  spring.      I    have    ridden  aCIOSS  the  Trinidad,  and 

twic<  the  Brazos.    I  have  also  forded  tin-  Neches  and 

the  Angelina,  (pronounced  Angelene.)    About  thirty  miles 

below    Washington   the  land  becomes   flat,  and  the  prairies 

i  like  the  ocean.     The  flat  lands  are  more  wet  and   Less 

healthful.  All  the  middle  parts  of  Texas,  though  they  have 
no  mountains,  have  Bwells,  and  present  a  beautiful  surface. 
My  labors  in  Texas  will  be  directed  to  forming  societies  and 
circuits,  establishing  schools,  and  making  arrangements  for 
a  college  or  university.  The  climate  here  is  comparatively 
mild,  but  the  winds  and  storms  are  sometimes  very  severe 


MARTIN    RUTER.  349 

and  tedious.  I  have  not  yet  seen  any  snow.  Yesterday  I 
ate  salad  of  lettuce,  full  grown,  and  greens  are  common,  chiefly 
of  mustard  leaves.  Some  of  the  people  here  are  very  rich, 
some  very  poor,  some  religious,  and  some  very  profligate. 
But  preachers  are  needed,  and  preaching  beyond  measure.  I 
feel  certain  our  mission  will  have  entire  success.  We  have 
now  twelve  societies." 

The  following  extract  is  from  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Z.  H. 
Costen,  Feb.  28th:  "I  reached  this  country  in  safety,  have 
been  in  it  between  three  and  four  months,  and  shall  remain, 
perhaps,  as  much  longer  before  returning  to  my  family.  The 
prospects  of  this  mission  are  equal  to  our  highest  expectations. 
"When  we  arrived  here,  there  was  not  a  Protestant  church  in 
the  whole  land,  and  scarcely  any  other.  "We  have  now 
several  houses  soon  to  be  built,  having  obtained  lots  for 
them,  and  some  are  already  begun.  Societies  have  been 
formed  in  various  places,  and  the  calls  in  different  parts  for 
preaching  are  far  more  numerous  than  we  are  able  to  supply. 
"We  meet  with  many  disadvantages,  such  as  are  peculiar  to 
all  new  countries,  but  not  greater  than  I  have  experienced  in 
Canada,  and  even  in  some  of  the  new  settlements  in  the 
United  States.  One  thing  gives  us  contentment  and  abun- 
dant consolation,  namely,  the  evident  approbation  of  Heaven 
upon  our  labors." 

From  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Missionary  Society, 
dated  Dec.  10th,  we  extract  a  few  lines : 

"  On  Saturday,  9th,  we  arrived  at  a  place  which,  on  account 
of  its  fruitfulness,  is  called  Egypt,  and  in  the  evening  preach- 
ed, as  we  did,  also,  on  the  Sabbath,  morning  and  evening, 
and  formed  a  society  of  ten  members.  In  the  afternoon  I 
gathered  a  small  assembly  of  colored  persons,  and  preached 
to  them.     The  colored  people  in  this  country  are  not  nume- 


350  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

rous.  From  this  place  I  expect  to  proceed  to  Bastrop,  on 
the  Colorado,  to  some  settlements  thirty  or  forty  miles  above 
that  place ;  and  if  I  can  find  an  armed  company  in  readiness 
to  proceed  to  Bexar,  on  the  San  Antonio  river,  I  intend  going 
with  them  to  that  city.  My  object  will  be  to  know,  by 
luil  observation,  the  state  of  the  inhabitants,  and  in 
what  settlements  they  will  readily  receive  preaching.  Those 
who  go  at  this  time  into  that  part  of  Texas,  generally  go  in 
companies  of  five,  six,  or  more,  armed  with  pistols,  rifles,  etc., 
on  account  of  the  Indians ;  but  whether  in  company  or 
alone,  I  shall  carry  no  weapons  made  with  hands.  Texas  is 
a  new  country,  of  rich  soil  and  mild  climate,  presenting  gnat 
facilities  to  industrious  emigrants.  The  country  was  recently 
ravaged  by  a  relentless  enemy,  carrying  fire,  sword,  and 
desolation,  and  it  is  now  laboring  under  numerous  privations 
But  those  who  desire  to  do  good  may  here 
have  an  ample  field.  The  fields  are,  indeed,  ready  for  the 
harvest.  It  is  true  that  the  war,  with  frequent  tidings  of 
alarm,  is  calcnlal  .gross  much  of  the  public  mind,  yet 

they  are  willing  ami  even  desirons  of  hearing  the  word  of 
life.  Wherever  any  of  us  have  been,  we  have  met  with  a 
kind  reception,  and  there  seems  to  be  a  general  willingness 
that  the  Lr"~p'l  shall  spread  in  the  land.  The  immoralities 
of  some  that  have  come  here,  professing  to  be  ministers  of 
Christ,  have  created  prejudices,  and  caused  some  of  the  people 
to  act  cautiously  toward  preachers  of  the  gospel.  But  it  is  a 
remarkable  fact,  that  impostors  in  this  community  are  very 
soon  known,  and  persons  of  good  standing  in  their  own 
country  are  very  soon  duly  estimated.  I  have  travelled  five 
or  six  hundred  miles  in  Texas,  full  of  bright  hope  that  the 
great  Head  of  the  Church  will  give  peace  to  this  land,  and 
here  extend  the  glories  of  his  kingdom.     It  is  necessary  to 


MARTIN    RUTER.  351 

travel,  in  this  country,  through  forests  and  immense  prairies, 
without  seeing  a  house,  and  but  few  animals,  except  flocks 
of  geese,  turkeys,  deer,  some  wolves,  and  wild  horses.  The 
storms  on  the  prairies  are  often  very  severe,  and  sometimes 
of  long  continuance.-  They  who  come  to  labor  in  Texas  must 
not  expect  to  dwell  in  palaces,  nor  be  carried  on  'flowery  beds 
of  ease,'  but  they  may  enjoy  great  peace  of  mind,  and  cherish 
a  joyful  hope  of  doing  much  good." 

In  his  first  letter  to  his  wife,  dated  Dec.  15,  he  says :  "  It  is 
only  eighteen  or  twenty  months  since  the  Mexican  army,  of 
eight  thousand,  overran  a  great  part  of  this  country,  destroy- 
ing houses,  furniture,  and  provisions.  The  accommodations, 
of  course,  are  often  poor.  Many  of  the  houses  are  cabins, 
without  glass  windows,  and  with  but  little  furniture.  The 
chief  food  is  corn-bread,  sweet  potatoes,  and  meat.  Butter, 
cheese,  and  milk  are  scarce.  Though  I  find  it  necessary  to 
dispense  with  most  of  the  luxuries  and  comforts  of  life,  yet 
how  glorious  the  privilege  of  doing  good  among  the  destitute ! 
In  San  Augustin  the  people  have  subscribed  between  three 
and  four  thousand  dollars  toward  building  a  Methodist 
church.  At  a  late  camp-meeting,  a  Missionary  Society  was 
formed,  and  about  six  hundred  dollars  subscribed  for  mis- 
sions." 

In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Bangs,  (probably  the  last  letter  he  ever 
wrote,  as  it  was  dated  April  26th,)  he  says :  "  My  health  was 
uniformly  good  till  the  first  of  the  present  month.  Since 
that  time  I  have  been  afflicted  with  a  fever,  which  I  hope  is 
now  nearly  subdued.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  produced 
by  fatigue,  and  by  riding  too  much  in  the  sun.  My  travels 
on  horseback  have  exceeded  two  thousand  two  hundred 
miles,  and  may  have  been,  in  some  instances,  too  great  for  my 
strength.    My  object  has  been  to  visit  as  much  of  the  country 


35:2  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

as  practicable,  and  to  supply  with  occasional  preaching  all 
the  destitute  places  my  time  and  strength  would  permit. 
And  when  we  consider  the  change  of  climate,  new  state  of 
the  country,  and  the  privations  which  are  unavoidable,  it  is 
surprising  that  our  health  has  been,  thus  far,  preserved.  It 
has  pleased  |  1  II, tad  of  the  Church  to  smile  upon  our 

feeble  efforts,  enabling  us  to  say,  'AVe  know  that  our  labor  is 
not  in  vain  in  the  Lord.'  Even  here,  in  the  lands  where 
hostile  armies  recently  met  in  dreadful  conflict,  and  where 
the  thunders  of  battle  were  heard,  where  we  still  hear  of  war 
and  rumors  of  war,  the  Prince  of  Peace  is  extending  his 
|  t'ul   kingdom.     And   let    it   extend!     0,  let   it   spread 

rapidly  lure,  and  in  other  regions,  until  the  angel  shall  pro- 
claim that  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become  the  king- 
doms  <»t'  our  Lord  lM 

Jlis  last  Letter  to  his  wife  bore  date  April  23,  and  was 
written  at  his  dictation  by  a  friend.     It  is  as  follows: 

"When  I  last  wrote  to  you,  I  expected  to  see  you  before 
writing  again.  Since  the  4th  of  this  month  my  health  has 
been  declining.  A  light  fever  ha-  been  affecting  me,  which 
is  generally  increased  by  any  effort  on  my  part.  I  had 
started  with  a  traveller  for  Red  river,  intending  to  take  a 
mboal  for  New  Albany,  and  after  travelling  about  fifty 
miles  I  found  the  fever  very  much  augmented,  and,  undesira- 
ble as  it  was,  the  only  safe  course  seemed  to  be  to  return 
to  this  town.  Here  I  have  two  physicians  —  Dr.  Manly,  re- 
cently from  Alabama,  and  Dr.  Smith,  of  this  place.  Dr. 
y,  who  has  the  principal  care  of  me,  is  known  for  his 
eminence  B8  a  minister  and  a  physician,  and  spares  nothiug 
f  tr  my  recovery  or  comfort.  Thus  situated,  I  have  every  thing 
but  home — that  you  know  I  never  can  have  except  where  you 
are.      The  wives  of  Drs.  Manly  and   Smith,  together  with 


MARTIN    E.UTER.  353 

others,  show  me  great  kindness.  I  judge  from  the  knowledge 
I  have  of  this  fever,  and  that  I  had  at  Cincinnati,  that  if 
these  physicians  had  been  with  me  then,  they  would  think 
the  prospects,  at  least,  as  favorable  now  as  they  were  then. 
Indeed,  I  could  now  write  this  letter,  which  I  could  not  have 
done  in  the  former  sickness,  but  Dr.  Manly  would  advise 
strongly  against  any  such  effort,  and  my  own  judgment 
denies  me  any  such  privilege.  Such  is  the  nature  of  these 
fevers,  Dr.  Manly  thinks  my  recovery  must  necessarily  be 
slow.  I  am  aware  of  the  disappointment  this  communication 
must  make  to  you,  to  the  family,  and  to  our  friends  generally, 
but  I  commend  you  and  them  to  the  mercies  of  the  great 
Head  of  the  Church,  now  and  for  ever." 

Some  extracts  from  his  private  journal  will  here  be  in 
place.  "April  1,  Sunday.  Preached  in  the  morning  and 
evening  to  the  white  people ;  in  the  afternoon  to  the  blacks. 
This  was  a  day  of  comfort.  Monday,  2.  Rode  to  Brother 
Kesee's.  Tuesday,  3.  To  Mr.  Cochran's.  This  day  makes 
me  fifty-three  years  of  age,  and  I  this  day  set  out  to  devote 
myself  more  than  ever  to  God;  first,  by  more  prayer;  second, 
by  more  attention  to  the  Scriptures ;  third,  by  general  read- 
ing and  meditation.  "Wednesday,  4.  Rode  to  Mr.  Ayres's. 
Thursday,  5.  Rode  to  Mr.  Cochran's  and  attended  a  marriage. 
Friday,  6.  Rode  to  Mr.  Bracey's.  Saturday,  7.  Being  afflicted 
with  fever,  rode  to  Mr.  Ayres's,  and  then  to  Bro.  Kenny's. 
Sunday,  8.  Too  ill  to  preach,  and  Brother  Kenny  went  to  my 
appointment,  and  preached  in  my  stead.  Sunday  evening. 
Find  myself  better,  and  my  mind  stayed  on  God,  to  whose 
service  I  hope  to  be  devoted  for  ever.  Monday,  9.  Rode 
to  Mr.  Ayres's :  still  unwell  and  under  temptation.  Tuesday 
evening.  To  Mr.  Rabb's.  Wednesday,  11.  To  Mr.  Kesee's. 
Feel  somewhat  improved  in  health.  Thursday.  To  Mr.  J. 
23 


354  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

nail's,  faying  to  recruit  my  strength.  Feel  myself  relieved 
in  trusting  iu  God,  my  only  helper.  Saturday,  14.  Bode  to 
Washington,  and  found  at  the  post  office  letters  from  home, 
which  gave  me  great  comfort.  Consulted  the  physicians 
concerning  my  health.  Sunday.  Rode  to  James  Hall's,  and 
preached  to  an  attentive  audience:  received  one  awakened 
sinner  on  trial;  then  rode  to  Brother  Cesee's.  Monday. 
Amidst  affliction,  rode  to  Mr.  Ayres's.  Wednesday,  18.  Bode 
to  Brother  Kesee's.  Thursday,  19.  Set  off  in  company  with 
a  Brother  Chapel  for  the  Bed  river,  on  my  way  home.  Found 
at  night  my  Illness  increasing.  Found  Brother  Chapel  urgent 
to  travel.  Friday,  20.  We  reached  a  Mr.  River's,  where  we 
Btayed  through  the  night.  Saturday,  21.  So  ill  I  thought  it 
prudent  t<>  take  an  emetic,  and  advised  brother  Chapel  (as 
he  was  uneasy)  to  go  on  alone.  lie  delayed  till  two  o'clock, 
and,  finding  me  no  better,  went  on.  Now  here  I  am  with  a 
threatening  fever,  among  strangers.  But  my  trust  is  in  the 
Most  High:  his mer  abundant,  and  live  or  die,  0,  let 

me  do  and  Buffer  his  blessed  will.  I  commit  to  him  myself 
and  dear  family,  wife  and  children,  now  and  for  ever.  Amen. 
Sunday,  -2-.  Found  myself  somewhat  relieved,  hut  perceived 
that  my  disease  was  settling  upon  my  lungs,  and  thought 
there  v.;  Lous  injury.    Being  entirely  without 

medical  aid  or  advice,  and  too  ill  to  venture  on  my  journey, 
it  seemed  judicious  to  return,  if  ahle,  to  Washington.  Bode 
with  more  case  that  I  expected  to  Mr.  Kennard's,  twenty 
miles.  After  resting  there,  I  proceeded  to  Mr.  Fanthorp's, 
eight  miles;  then  to  Washington,  arriving  there  on  Monday, 
-■'.  being  seventeen  miles.  Feel  much  fatigued,  hut  com- 
1  with  the  goodness  of  God.  0,  how  unsearchable  his 
wisdom,  and  his  way-  past  finding  out!" 

This  tran-cript  is  in  his  own  handwriting,  and  is  likely  the 


MARTIN    RUIER.  355 

last  his  pen  ever  traced.  His  disease  seems  to  have  been 
typhoid  pneumonia,  and  he  lingered  until  the  16th  of  May, 
when  his  spirit  returned  to  God.  Though  far  from  home, 
and  among  comparative  strangers,  he  seems  to  have  had 
every  attention  and  kindness  possible,  under  the  circum- 
stances. "When  he  left  for  Texas,  he  was  in  fine  health,  and 
seemingly  in  the  prime  of  manly  vigor,  but  was  several  years 
older  than  in  the  severe  sickness  he  refers  to  at  Cincinnati, 
consequently  had  less  recuperative  power — less  chance  to 
recover.  The  kind  friends  in  Texas  who  ministered  to  his 
comfort  in  health,  and  watched  around  his  sick-couch,  have 
laid  his  numerous  friends  everywhere,  and  especially  his 
immediate  family,  under  lasting  obligations  of  gratitude. 
Theirs  was  the  dear  privilege  that  his  family  would  so  much 
have  coveted,  of  ministering  to  his  wants,  and  receiving  his 
parting  adieu. 

In  one  of  Miss  McHenry's  letters  she  says  :  "  My  brother- 
in-law,  with  whom  I  reside,  was  an  old  acquaintance  and 
friend  of  Dr.  Euter's,  and  meeting  in  this  strange  land,  the 
way  to  his  partiality  seemed  at  once  open,  and  we  begged 
him  to  consider  our  home  his  home.  "We  felt  honored  and 
blessed  by  his  visits  and  instructions,  and  while  we  live  shall 
retain  a  grateful  sense  of  their  value,  and  consider  the  friend- 
ship with  which  we  were  favored,  for  a  few  short  months,  as 
among  the  best  gifts  of  Heaven.  In  this  deep  affliction  you 
have  the  sympathy  of  the  virtuous  part  of  a  whole  community. 
And  though  it  cannot  les-sen  your  present  bereavement,  yet 
it  cannot  be  unpleasant  to  reflect  that  a  nation  looked  to  him 
as  her  guide  to  religion  and  science,  and  that  that  nation 
mourns  with  you.  Dr.  Ruter  enjoyed  fine  health  during  the 
winter.  lie  shrunk  from  no  fatigue,  and  housed  himself 
from  no  storm  which  interfered  with  his  plans.     lie  pursued 


35G  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

what  he  believed  to  be  the  path  of  duty  with  systematic  and 
unwavering  perseverance  and  uniform  cheerfulness.  He  was 
deeply  interested  in  the  moral  renovation  of  Texas,  and 
believed  it  quite  practicable.  He  would  ride  several  miles  in 
a  day,  and  preach  sermons  sometimes  to  not  more  than  fifteen 
or  twenty  persons,  in  a  little  Bmoky  cabin,  with  as  much 
energy  and  fervor  as  I  should  have  expected  had  he  been 
addressing  thousands  in  a  splendid  church.  His  work  was 
his  pleasure.  It  was  common  with  him  to  ask  permission  to 
;  h  in  places  where  he  would  Btop  in  travelling.  More 
than  one  ho  r  can  testify  to  the  interest  with  which 

she  collected  her  family  after  Bupper  to  hear  the  word  of 
iction  from  his  benevolent  lips." 
The  Bame  lady  says  in  another  place  :  "Though  so  far  from 
his  family  and  native  land,  he  has  not  gone  like  one  in  a  land 
He  had  every  attention  that  the  most  anxious 
solicitude  could  bestow  or  kindness  give;    and  among  his 
physicians  w<  re  piety,  learning,  and  Bkill."    In  another  letter 
is  the  following:   "J>r.  Ruter  made  his  head-quarters  at 
our  house,  and  returned  to  it  after  every  excursion.     He 
often  related  am  of  his  trip,  characteristic  of  our  new 

ami  wild  population,  which  Bhowed  the  heartfelt  welcome  with 
whirii  h<  vhere  received.     Indeed,  he  was  Looked 

to  as  one  who  was  to  raise  us  to  a  moral,  religious,  and 
literary  stand  among  respectable  cations;  and  his  sudden  and 
unlnokcd-for  demise  was  felt  as  a  national  calamity." 

The  same  writer  says:  "That  his  life  was  sacrificed  in  his 
efforts  to  advance  the  cause  of  religion,  and  improve  the 
moral  condition  of  Texas,  is  impressed  on  the  mind  of  every 
one  who  witnessed  his  labors  during  the  few  months  he  spent 
in  the  country.  The  religion  and  the  literature  of  Texas  are  , 
alike   indebted  to  his  memory.      With  him  originated  the 


MARTIN    RUTER.  357 

project  of  establishing  a  mission  in  our  new  and  interesting 
republic.  He  laid  the  wants  and  claims  of  Texas  before  the 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
though  some  of  its  members  regarded  the  mission  to  this 
country  as  premature,  they  yielded  to  his  judgment,  and 
accepted  his  offered  services.  In  the  autumn  of  1837  he 
came  to  Texas,  and  reached  the  interior  of  the  country  early 
in  December.  During  a  winter  unusually  severe  for  this 
climate,  he  rode  constantly,  and  labored  incessantly  and  un- 
tiringly, visiting  towns,  neighborhoods,  and  families,  preach- 
ing in  all  cases  where  there  were  hearers,  though  his  audience 
might  consist  of  only  a  single  family.  It  was  his  custom,  when 
he  stopped  for  the  night,  to  inquire  of  the  family,  after  the 
business  of  the  evening  was  over,  if  they  would  hear  preach- 
ing. He  repeatedly  preached,  in  such  cases,  to  those  who 
had  never  heard  a  sermon  in  Texas.  Every  village  in  his 
route  was  visited,  in  the  hope  of  waking  up  an  interest  in 
favor  of  that  religion  of  which  he  was  a  faithful  minister.  Of 
singularly  happy  manners  and  address,  he  made  a  deep  and 
pleasing  impression  wherever  he  went.  The  gayest  felt 
flattered  by  his  notice,  the  most  intelligent  improved  by  his 
society,  and  the  highest  honored  by  his  attention.  The 
system  and  precision  with  which  he  attended  to  the  objects 
of  his  mission,  enabled  him  to  complete  the  necessary  ar- 
rangements for  securing  ground  and  erecting  such  houses  of 
worship  as  the  then  new  state  of  the  country  rendered  prac- 
ticable. In  Washington  he  persisted  until  he  saw  and 
preached  in  a  little  church,  sufficient  for  the  wants  of  the 
population,  and  whose  walls  were  soon  after  consecrated 
anew  by  his  own  funeral-sermon.  He  was  satisfied  if  a  com- 
munity young  and  poor  as  Texas  was  built  churches  as 
good  as  their  own  dwelling-houses,  confident  that  when  the 


358  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

citizens  could  afford  better  dwellings,  they  would  rebuild  their 
houses  of  worship.  With  him,  also,  originated  the  idea  of 
establishing  such  an  institution  of  learning  in  Texas  as 
should  qualify  the  youth  of  the  country  for  filling  stations  of 
honor  and  usefulness,  without  their  being  compelled  to  go 
out  of  the  country  for  education.  For  these  desirable  objects 
he    came    to  this  new,   i  s,    and    comfortless    country, 

where  not  one  family  in  ten  could  furnish  him  a  separate 
Bleeping -apartment,  and  in  the  P  privation,  toil,  and 

hardship,  pursued  his  plans.  He  visited  Houston,  where  the 
Cong  ion,  applied  to,  and  was  encouraged  by 

many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  country  to  establish  Buch  a 
of  learning  as  that  alluded  to.     Lil  era!  offers  were  made 
1  .    everal  Large  Landholders,  until  Borne  six  or  Beven  Leag 

1  for  the  benefit  of  the  institution,  in  the  event 
of  his   removing  to  T  Ee   v..-nt    BO   for  as  to   draw  up 

pal  articles  of  a  charter  to  be  presented  to  the  nexl  Oon- 
j,  styling  the  contemplated  Institution  /'  p  Uni  rsity^ 
intending  to  locate  it  at  Bastrop.  He  purchased  land,  ar- 
ranged hie  family  affairs  to  remove,  and  when  on  the  eve  of 
returning  to  the  United  Stale-  for  thai  purpose,  remarked  to 
a  friend,  that  he  had  done  all  that  he  came  to  T  i  do, 

and  would  now  plead  her  cant  e;  would  visit  several 

of  the  Eastern  and  Northern  cities  before  his  return,  and 
would  present  her  moral  wants,  so  as  to  enlist  the  good,  the 
wise,  and  the  wealthy  in  her  cause.  The  Bpring  of  1838  was 
unusually  early  and  warm,  and  after  the  fatigue  and  expo- 
sure of  the  winter,  his  health  failed.  His  composure,  his 
patience,  hi-  ation  during  weeks  of  Buffering,  so  far 

from  his  family,  were  such  as  might  have  been  expected  in 
one  who  had  devoted  his  whole  life  to  that  God  in  whom  he 
trusted  for  eternal  happiness.     He  said  to  a  friend  shortly 


MARTIN    RUTER.  359 

before  his  death,  '  TVTiy  be  impatient  ?  I  gave  my  family  to 
God  when  I  left  them,  and  the  way  to  heaven  is  as  short  and 
plain  from  Texas  as  from  any  other  spot.'  " 

In  a  letter  from  Bishop  Hedding  to  my  husband,  concern- 
ing his  death,  he  says :  "  I  always  believed  him  to  be  an 
upright,  holy  man.  I  never  knew  him  to  turn  aside  from  the 
path  of  righteousness  and  duty,  nor  ever  heard  of  his  doing 
so :  no,  never  did  I  hear  of  his  falling  even  into  an  act  of 
imprudence.  The  cause  of  Christ  always  appeared  to  lie  near 
his  heart,  and  its  advancement  was  manifestly  the  object 
of  his  labors.  He  commenced  preaching  when  very  young, 
but  there  were  early  developments  of  rare  talents.  So  far  as 
I  had  the  means  of  knowing,  he  was  highly  esteemed  by  the 
people  in  every  circuit,  station,  and  district  where  he 
labored.  I  never  knew  him  fail  of  acceptance  and  success  in 
any  place.  God  blessed  the  word  spoken  by  him  with  '  signs 
following;'  and  many,  I  doubt  not,  are  now  in  heaven,  who 
received  their  first  religious  impressions  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  his  ministry.  Many  others  are  yet  living  who 
can  bear  witness  that  he  was  a  messenger  of  salvation  to  their 
g^uls.  "When  he  proposed,  in  conversation  with  me  at  the 
time  of  the  General  Conference  of  Cincinnati,  in  1836,  to  go 
as  a  missionary  to  Texas,  he  seemed  to  be  deeply  affected 
with  a  sense  of  the  importance  of  the  work ;  and  his  motives 
appeared  to  be  such  as  those  of  a  Christian  minister  should 
be  in  commencing  such  an  undertaking.  The  following 
extracts  of  a  letter  I  received  from  him,  dated  Cincinnati, 
April  26,  1837,  will  tend  to  show  the  views  he  entertained  on 
that  subject:  lI  have  determined  to  go  to  Texas,  in  conformity 
with  the  appointment  contained  in  your  letter.  The  college 
can  now  prosper  in  other  hands,  and  to  me  it  appears  that  I 
could  do  more  good  in  Texas,  or  on  some  other  mission,  than 


360  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

in  the  college.  I  devoted  two  years  to  New  Market  TVesleyan 
Academy,  which  was  removed  to  "Wilbraham,  four  or  five 
years  to  Augusta  College,  and  nearly  four  to  the  one  at  Mead- 
ville,  all  for  the  good  of  the  Church,  though  a  sacrifice  on  my 
part.  If  I  can  be  released  for  a  while,  and  be  permitted  to 
labor  in  the  more  active  duties  of  the  ministry,  I  shall  be 
thankful.'  " 

Here  is  a  tribute  to  his  memory  from  Bishop  Morris  :  "As 
we  ascended  the  hill  from  the  ferry  on  the  west  side,  we 
entered  the  town  of  Washington.  Having  proceeded  west  to 
the  middle  of  the  town,  we  turned  at  right  angles  to  tho 
north,  about  three  hundred  yards,  to  the  old  graveyard, 
which  is  situated  on  a  dry  ridge  in  open  woods.  Our  busi- 
ness was  to  .ivc  of  Dr.  Rater,  the  apostle  of 
M<  thodism  in  Texas,  who  died  at  his  pott,  May  16th,  1838. 
The  mournful  spot  sought  for  was  easily  found  without  a 
guide,  the  grave  being  enclosed  by  a  Btone  wall,  and  covered 
with  a  white  marble  slab,  thz  wide  and  six  long,  with 
a  suitable  inscription.  At  the  foot  of  the  slab  stands  a  small 
hickory  tree,  hung  with  Spanish  moss,  waving  in  the  breeze 
over  the  charnel-house.  "When  we  Mad  on  the  cold  marble, 
*  Thirty-seven  years  an  Itinerant  Minister  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  Superintendent  of  the  first  Mission  of 
that  Church  in  the  Republic  of  Texas,'  and  then  remembered 
that  the  same  mission  had  already  become  a  respectable  Con- 
ference, and  was  still  increasing,  the  thought  arose,  "Whereunto 
will  this  mission  grow?  and  what  cause  of  rejoicing  must  this 
be  to  its  first  superintendent  for  ever!" 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Goode,  speaking  of  Texas,  says:  "Here  Me- 
thodism is  pioneering,  in  her  true  character,  and  evidently 
exerting  a  happy  influence  in  the  formation  of  the  character 
of  this  people.     It  is  said  that  one  of  the  late  Texan  envoys  to 


MARTIN    RUTEE.  361 

the  United  States  Government  remarked,  while  in  Washing- 
ton City,  that  '  The  efforts  of  the  Methodist  ministry  had  done 
more  toward  securing  respect  for  the  laws,  submission  to 
courts  of  justice,  regard  to  the  sanctity  of  oaths,  and  conse- 
quently the  general  peace  and  good  order  of  society,  than  any 
other  influence  that  had  ever  been  exerted.'  So  let  it  ever  be 
truly  said  of  the  Methodist  ministry  everywhere !  But,  solemn 
reflection,  these  blessings  have  not  been  attained  for  Texas 
without  cost  to  the  Church.  In  this  land  some  of  her  most 
gifted  and  favorite  sons  have  laid  down  their  lives.  Here  fell 
our  Ruter,  our  Poe  and  his  pious  companion :  here  their  dust 
reposes,  and  hence  will  they  arise  in  the  morning  of  the 
resurrection.  But  they  have  left  a  monument  in  the  hearts 
of  a  grateful  people." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Alexander  says :  "One  week  after  his  return 
to  Washington,  I  heard  of  his  illness,  and  went  immediately 
to  see  him.  I  found  him  quite  ill,  but  in  a  happy  frame  of 
mind,  perfectly  resigned  to  the  will  of  God.  I  remained  with 
him  several  days  and  nights,  and  such  patience  under  afflic- 
tion I  never  witnessed  before.  We  frequently  engaged  in 
prayer  with  him,  and  his  whole  soul  seemed  engaged  in  the 
exercise.  At  his  request  I  preached  for  him  one  evening,  a 
few  friends  being  present.  When  he  first  proposed  it,  I 
hesitated  for  a  moment.  He  immediately  remarked,  'You 
may  say  to  yourself,  He  has  gone  over  the  whole  subject- 
matter  of  preaching  so  often,  it  would  not  interest  him  to 
hear  it.  Not  so — the  gospel  is  a  treasure — this  is  what  I 
need.'  He  continued  perfectly  in  his  senses  till  the  last 
moment.  A  short  time  before  he  expired  he  fainted :  after 
reviving,  with  uplifted  hands  and  eyes,  he  said,  'Bless  the 
Lord  for  that  grace  that  has  so  long  sustained  and  still  sus- 
tains me !'     He  frequently  expressed  great  concern  for  the 


362  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

prosperity  of  this  mission,  and  of  Zion  at  large.  The  Doctor 
followed  to  the  grave  by  a  large  concourse  of  citizens, 
lie  -was  greatly  beloved,  and  Ins  memory  will  be  long 
cherished." 

An  extract  from  the  Ecv.  Mr.  Fowler  says:  "Dr.  Ruter 
died  at  his  post,  as  a  faithful  watchman  on  the  walls  of  Zion. 
In  this  mysterious  providence  the  Church  has  lost  one  of  her 
first  and  most  efficient  ministers.  But  though  a  mighty  man 
in  Israel  is  fallen,  he  conquered  ae  he  fell,  and  has  gone  in 
deathless  triumph  to  his  reward  in  heaven.  lie  now  rests 
from  his  labors,  and  his  works  follow  him." 

His  death  produced  a  sensation  of  deep  sorrow  throughout 
the  Church,  to  all  portions  of  which  his  long  and  devoted 
labors  and  eminent  qualities  had  endeared  him.  The  New 
E  gland  Conference,  within  whose  hounds  his  name  was  as 
ointmenl  poured  forth,  was  in  session  at  Boston  when  the  sad 

intelligence  arrived.  It  was  first  announced  from  the  pulpits 
OB  Sabbath  morning,  and  was  noticed  by  Drs.  Fi.-k  and 
Bi  om  in  their  discourses  during  the  day,  amidst  the  pro- 
found emotions  of  the  people,  many  of  whom  had  sat  under 
his  ministry. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  introduced 
by  Dr.  Fisk,  and  passed  unanimously  by  the  Conference: 
"In  view  of  the  painful  intelligence  just  communicated  to 
the  Conference  by  Bishop  Soule,  of  the  unexpected  and 
afflicting  death  of  that  highly  gifted,  useful,  and  esteemed 
brother  and  fellow-laborer,  Rev.  Martin  Buter,  D. D.,  mis- 
sionary in  Texas,  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  Dr.  Ruter 
formerly  held  a  special  relation  to  this  Conference,  having 
commenced  his  ministerial  labors  in  New  England,  and 
having  not  only  labored  in  unison  with  many  of  our  surviving 
ministers,  but  was  also  honored  by  God  in  being  the  instru- 


MARTIN    RUTER.  363 

merit  of  the  conversion  of  some  who  are  now  members  of  this 
Conference,  we,  the  members  of  the  New  England  Annual 
Conference,  in  Conference  assembled, 

"Resolve,  That  we  deeply  feel  this  painful  dispensation  of 
Divine  Providence  in  the  removal  of  one  with  whom  many 
of  us  were  allied  by  personal  and  friendly  ties,  and  whose  loss 
is  so  great  an  affliction  to  the  Church  of  Christ.  "We  honor 
the  memory  of  the  deceased,  we  feel  humbled  under  a  sense 
of  this  providential  chastisement,  and  most  earnestly  suppli- 
cate the  Divine  blessing  upon  us  and  upon  the  Church,  that 
this  visitation  may  be  sanctified  to  us,  and  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  cause  of  God  in  general,  and  of  the  missionary 
work  in  particular." 

Resolutions,  commemorative  of  his  worth,  were  also  passed 
by  the  Pittsburg  Conference  and  the  Alleghany  College,  as 
with  both  he  was  identified  up  to  the  last  year  of  his  life. 

Dr.  Manly,  one  of  the  physicians  of  the  deceased,  the 
day  after  his  death  wrote  to  his  widow  as  follows :  "  It  falls 
to  my  lot  to  first  communicate  to  you  the  painful  intel- 
ligence that  the  Rev.  Dr.  M.  Ruter,  your  husband,  is  now  no 
more — yours  or  ours.  He  departed  this  life  between  two  and 
three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  instant,  full  of  that 
faith  and  grace  which  had  buoyed  him  up  through  the  labors 
of  a  minister  and  missionary  for  the  last  thirty-seven  years. 
He  has  travelled  amongst  us  since  last  fall,  organizing 
societies,  forming  circuits,  and  establishing  and  spreading 
the  gospel  over  this  wilderness,  with  such  zeal  for  the  cause 
of  God  as  caused  him  to  disregard  long  rides,  cold,  hunger, 
wet,  much  preaching,  or  any  other  obstacle  that  might  pre- 
sent itself.  He  has  seemed  to  have  but  one  motive — to  do 
his  work  and  finish  his  course  in  peace.  But,  0,  how  soon 
it  has  been  done  !    The  Doctor  complained  of  a  feverish  con- 


364  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

ditiou  and  bad  health  for  some  weeks  before  he  was  confined 
to  his  bed,  and  often  spoke  of  setting  out  for  home,  but  was 
fearful  to  do  so  until  he  felt  butter;  but  at  length  he  started, 
and  rode  one  day  and  part  of  another;  and  becoming  too  sick 
to  travel,  he  took  medicine,  and  on  feeling  better  next  morn- 
ing, he  determined  that  it  was  best  for  him  to  return  to  this 
place  to  procure  medical  aid,  and  to  be  amongst  his  friends. 
lie  did  so,  and  remained  able  to  walk  about  a  little  a  day  or 
two,  and  was  then  confined  to  his  bed.  Dr.  Smith  and 
myself  were  his  principal  physicians,  having  also  the  aid  of 
ral  others  occasionally,  that  we  might  leave  nothing 
undone  that  could  promise  him  any  relief;  but  all  to  no 
purpose.  I  watched  ever  him  as  physician  and  friend  for 
three  weeks,  and  often,  during  that  time,  we  prayed  ami  held 
sweet  counsel  together;  and  \n&  firm  confidence,  his  communion 
villi  Gfcd,  his  '  ■<  resignation  to  the  will  of 

Heaven,  and  his  ardent  concern  for  the  welfare  of  the  Church, 
made  a  deep  and  lasting  impression  upon  my  own  heart. 
My  d<  ar  deter,  we  would  sympathize  with  you,  but,  at  the 
same  time,  are  almost  inclined  to  say  that  OUT  loss,  and  the 
loss  of  this  country,  is  greater  than  yours.  As  an  individual, 
I  had  the  happiness  of  but  a  short  acquaintance  with  Dr. 
Ruter,  but  we  loved  him  much.  Let  us  not  weep:  he  hat 
gone  to  his  rest,  and  we,  if  faithful,  will  soon  follow.  Ilia 
disease  was  a  pulmonary  affection,  in  which  the  liver  and 
bowels  were  largely  involved,  brought  on  by  severe  colds, 
etc.  "We  have  buried  his  remains  as  respectably  as  this 
country  could  afford,  in  the  midst  of  the  deep  anxieties  of 
our  town  and  community,  and  we  shall  enclose  his  grave 
with  a  decent  wall  and  a  suitable  monument,  as  the  last 
tribute  of  respect  that  we  have  the  privilege  and  pleasure  of 
offering." 


MARTIN    RUTEE.  365 

Dr.  Ruter  was  self-educated,  but  acquired  a  good  acquaint- 
ance with  Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  French,  the  Mathematics, 
History,  and  other  branches  of  knowledge.  He  was  honored 
spontaneously  with  the  titles  of  A.  M.  and  D.  D.  He  was  an 
assiduous  student  while  pursuing  the  fatiguing  routes  of  his 
itinerant  ministry,  and  is,  like  Adam  Clarke,  an  example  of 
the  success  with  which  even  elaborate  studies  may  be  pursued 
under  the  inconveniences  of  such  a  life.  In  person  he  was 
substantially  formed,  and  dignified  in  his  manners.  He  had 
the  affability  of  the  Christian  gentleman.  His  voice  was 
unusually  melodious,  and  his  love  of  music  strong.  In  the 
pulpit  he  was  grave,  pathetic,  and  often  commandingly  elo- 
quent. He  lived  in  habitual  communion  with  God,  and  his 
piety,  ever  reverential  yet  cheerful,  gave  the  charm  of  a  pure 
Christian  cordiality  to  his  whole  character. 

In  1848  the  Eev.  Mr.  Thrall  writes :  "  It  is  now  almost  ten 
years  since  this  distinguished  scholar  and  devoted  missionary 
breathed  his  last  in  Washington.  A  few  mornings  since,  I 
visited  the  spot  hallowed  by  becoming  the  resting-place  of 
his  mortal  remains.  By  the  exertions  of  our  beloved  brother, 
the  Rev.  R.  Alexander,  a  beautiful  marble  slab  was  procured 
and  placed  over  his  grave.  It  bears  an  inscription  from  the 
pen  of  Dr.  Wmans." 

The  epitaph  will  be  found  on  the  following  page. 


366  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

BENEATH     THIS     STONE 
BJU1 

THE    MORTAL    REMAINS 
OF 

REV.     MARTIN     RUTER,     D.D., 

87    YEVKS    AN    ITINERANT    MINISTER 

or  the 

Mt.TiiuuisT  Episcopal  Church, 

in 

Superintendent  01  the  rn>r  AfissiOl  01  that  Church 

IX 
THE      REPUBLIC     OF     TEXAS. 

HI    WAS 

RESTECTAHLE    FOR    HIS    TALENTS, 
DI8TDN1UISHBD   Full    li is    LEARNING, 

AMD 

::r.LY   AND   devoutly    I 

HE    DIED    IN    THIS    T'.'.VN,    M\V    1  <  i  T  H .    1838, 

IN    THE    •'■(Til    Vl   \U    i'V    III-    A'.i:. 

ins   in>   v.  it    i-i  LOB. 

HE    LETT    A    WIDOW    AND    NINE    CHILDREN, 

with    WHOB1    BOHBOWI 

THOTIAID1   s  y  M  PATH I IB | 

AMONH    WHOM    THE    A88001ATM    AND    OBJECTS 

OF    ■      •     ■  VuLENCE 

AHE    PRINCIPAL. 

w*(  "   '  •  rant  of  the  Hiphcst! 

Thy  work  I  I  thoo  rtrt  blest; 

Beneath  Jcho\  thoa  liest, 

tcl  in  thy  quiet  rest. 

Soon,  when  the  resurrection-day  shall  rise, 
The  trump  of  Gabriel  thou  shalt  hear, 

Burst  from  thy  grave  with  glad  surprise, 
And  with  the  saints  of  light  appear, 

In  honor  clad,  with  glory  crowned, 
To  hear  the  approval  of  thy  King, 

And  jnin  the  raptured  hosts  around, 
The  triumphs  of  his  grace  to  sing. 


WILLIAM    W.    REDMAN.  367 


WILLIAM   W.   REDMAN. 

BY    THE    REV.     ANDREW    MONROE. 

William  W.  Redman  was  born  in  the  Northwestern  Terri- 
tory, now  Clark  County,  Indiana,  December  14th,  1799.  His 
parents  were  both  pious,  being  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and,  as  a  natural  consequence,  felt  a  deep 
concern  for  the  spiritual  and  eternal  welfare  of  their  off- 
spring, and  labored,  both  by  precept  and  example,  to  "bring 
them  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord."  Hence 
their  son  William  was  in  early  life  led  to  an  acquaintance 
with  the  great  fundamental  doctrines  of  Christianity,  and 
made  familiar  with  the  peculiarities  of  Methodism,  as  taught 
and  exemplified  by  Havens,  Wiley,  Ruter,  and  other  pioneers 
of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

Besides  the  advantages  of  pious  parental  instruction,  young 
Redman  had  the  counsel  and  fervent  prayers  of  the  devoted 
itinerant  preachers  who  often,  in  their  peregrinations  through 
the  country  in  those  early  days,  lodged  at  his  father's  house. 
Through  these  instrumentalities  he  was  early  brought  to  see 
and  feel  his  sinfulness  and  lost  condition,  and  need  of  par- 
doning mercy  through  Christ.  According  to  his  own  state- 
ment, for  the  space  of  several  years  he  often  prayed  and 
wept  on  account  of  sin,  although  he  was  not  addicted  to  any 


368  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

flagrant  vices ;  yet  be  says  of  himself,  "  I  had  a  rebellious 
will  and  a  proud  heart,  and  thought  more  highly  of  myself 
than  I  ought  to  think."  Thus  he  continued  to  be  exercised, 
resolving,  vowing,  and  praying,  until,  in  the  seventeenth 
year  of  his  age,  he  was  permitted,  in  the  good  providence  of 
God,  to  hear  thai  weeping  prophet,  that  eminent  servant  of 
God  and  the  Church,  Bishop  George,  preach  from  the  latter 
part  of  our  Lord's  Prayer,  "Deliver  us  from  evil,"  etc.  Uu- 
der  that  discourse  his  convictions  became  deep,  and  bis  pur- 
and  Berve  God  became  settled  ;  his  heart  melted ; 
his  i  •    deeply  wrought  on  while  the  man  of  God 

spake  as  with  a  tongne  of  fire.  He  wrote  down  the  heads  of 
tbf  discourse,  and  frequently  read  them  over  to  revive  and 
reawaken  the  feelings  which  it  bad  produced. 

He  continued  in  this  state  of  awakening  until  September 
12th,  L817,  when  he  attended  a  camp-meeting  in  Jefferson 
County,  Kentucky,  ami  there,  while  listening  to  a  Bermon 
from  these  words,  "This  man  receiveth  sinners,"  he  was 
enabled  to  exclaim,  "0  Lord,  I  will   praise  thee:   though 

thou  wast    angry  with  me,  thine  anger  is  turned  away,  and 

thou comfortedsl  me.  Heboid,  God  is  my  salvation:  I  will 
trust  and  leu  be  afraid ;  for  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  my  Btrength 
and  my  Bong." 

This  meeting  was  held  near  Middletown,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  Rev.  James  Ward.  In  the  labors  ami  priviL 
of  that  meeting  the  writer  of  this  sketeh  participated.  He 
remembers  to  have  heard  Mr.  Redman  sneak  of  seeing  and 
hearing  him,  and  being  assisted  by  him ;  but  who  preached 
the  sermon  under  which  he  was  converted,  cannot  be  said 
with  certainly.  It  was  probably  the  presiding  elder,  the  Rev. 
Mareus  Lindsey,  who  was  a  great  and  good  man  in  his  day, 
and  did  much  to  advance  the  cause  of  God  and  Methodism 


WILLIAM     W.     REDMAN.  369 

in  Kentucky.  He  died  of  cholera  in  1832  or  1833,  in  the 
midst  of  his  best  days.  The  pious,  useful,  and  sweet-spirited 
Adams  was  present,  and  labored  with  others  on  that  memora- 
ble occasion. 

That  the  lives  and  labors  of  Lindsey  and  Adams  deserve  a 
more  extended  and  permanent  notice  than  has  been  given 
them,  is  the  judgment  of  the  writer;  but  their  record  is  on 
high,  and  their  works  follow  them. 

Shortly  after  Mr.  Redman  had  professed  religion  and 
joined  the  Church,  he  was  persuaded  that  God  had  a  work 
for  him  to  do,  and  that  a  dispensation  of  the  gospel  was 
committed  to  him.  He  was  accordingly  licensed  to  exhort 
December  17th,  1819,  and  on  the  10th  of  June  following,  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  as  a  local  preacher.  Both  of  his 
licenses  are  signed  by  the  Eev.  Calvin  Ruter,  as  presiding 
elder. 

But  young  Redman  was  destined  for  a  larger  field  of 
action.  With  a  heart  burning  with  holy  fire,  he  was  con- 
strained by  the  love  of  Christ  to  give  himself  wholly  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry ;  and  yet  this  decision  was  not  reached 
without  a  struggle.  It  was  no  small  trial,  in  those  days, 
for  a  young  man  of  ordinary  advantages  to  become  an  itin- 
erant preacher.  To  say  nothing  about  the  surrender  of  all 
prospect  of  worldly  gain,  abandonment  of  home,  and  the 
like,  there  were  then  no  large  cities  and  towns,  with  rich 
stations,  districts,  and  circuits  already  organized,  with  com- 
modious and  comfortable  houses  of  worship  to  preach  in, 
and  ceiled  and  carpeted  houses  to  lodge  the  weary  preacher. 
Let  any  man  reflect  on  what  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  and 
Arkansas  were  thirty-five  or  forty  years  since,  and  he  can 
imagine  what  lay  before  young  Redman  and  many  others 
who  entered  the  itinerant  ranks  in  our  Church  about  the 
24 


370  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

same  time.  A  vast  wilderness,  dark  in  every  point  of  view, 
was  Bpread  ont  before  them.  But  the  love  of  Christ,  and  a 
desire  to  Bave  souls  for  whom  he  died,  decided  the  contest. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  having  been  duly  recommended 
candidate  to  this  great  work,  he  was  admitted  on  trial 
in  t1     '  iri  Conference,  which  at  that  time  included  the 

portion  of  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  and  Arkansas. 
T  following  are  the  districts  as  (hen  arranged:  Indiana 
District,  with  a  membership  of  8492  whites,  1G  colored  mem- 
bers; Illinois  District,  with  a  membership  of  1864  whites,  7 
ed  members;  Missouri  District,  with  a  membership  of 
l  ites,  148  colored   members;    Black   River  District, 

with  a  membership  of  511  whites,  25  colored  members. 

Brother  Redman's  first  appointment  \\;i-  to  the  White 
River  Circuit,  Arkansas  Territory,  in  the  Black  River  Dis- 
trict, Brother  Wright  presiding  elder.  To  reach  this  distant 
field  must  hi  him  a  journey  of  at  least  live  hundred 

mile  .     II:-  route  lay  through  a  newly  settled  country,  and  a 
part  of  the  way  through  a  wilderness.    Settlements  were  then 
and  farbetw*  commodations  were  rough;  and  the 

difficulties  and  d  of  the  way  were  greatly  augmented 

he  entire  ab  bridg   i  and  roads.     So  far  as  the 

writer  is  advised,  the  young  preacher  mail.'  the  journey  soli- 
tary and  alone  to  his  new  field  of  labor.  Jt  is  likely  that  he 
formed  (J  I  lit,  as  it  does  not  appear  on  the  minutes  of 
that  year:  it'  so,  this  greatly  increased  his  responsibility  and 
perplexity. 

The  great  distance  between  his  appointments  sometimes 
compelled  him  to  lodge  in  the  wild*  .  with  the  canopy 

of  heaven  as  his  covering,  his  horse  as  his  only  companion, 
and  his  saddlebags  for  his  pillow.  On  such  occasions  the 
hear,  the  wolf,  and  the  panther  were  about  his  path.    On  one 


WILLIAM     W.     REDMAN.  371 

occasion,  as  lie  related  to  me,  he  was  greatly  alarmed  iu  tlie 
darkness  of  the  night,  when  compelled  to  lodge  in  the  open 
wilderness.  Having  secured  his  horse  for  the  night,  he  laid 
himself  down,  with  his  saddlehags  for  his  pillow.  lie  had 
lain  but  a  few  minutes  when  the  sudden  terrific  scream  of  a 
panther  "brought  him  to  his  feet :  with  great  difficulty  he 
held  his  horse,  and  for  awhile  he  expected  the  bloodthirsty 
animal  would  rend  him  in  pieces ;  but  without  any  assignable 
cause,  the  dangerous  foe  retired,  his  affrighted  horse  became 
quiet,  and  he  passed  the  remainder  of  the  night  in  safety. 
In  the  morning  he  paid  his  devotions  to  the  God  of  Daniel, 
who  had  delivered  him  from  so  great  danger,  and  soon 
found  his  way  to  the  cabin  of  the  pioneer  settler,  who  cor- 
dially entertained  him  with  his  simple  fare,  and  then  he 
went  on  his  way  rejoicing. 

As  to  the  result  of  his  labors  on  this  Circuit  we  know 
nothing,  except  what  we  gather  from  the  printed  minutes. 
These  show  that  he  returned  a  regular  circuit,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  138  white  and  18  colored  members — a  good  year's 
work,  considering  the  sparseness  of  the  population,  and  the 
condition  of  the  country. 

That  section  of  the  work  was  considered  a  very  sickly  one, 
and  nearly  all  the  preachers  who  labored  there  suffered  seri- 
ously, and  some  never  recovered  entirely  from  the  effects  of 
climate  and  exposure ;  but  I  believe  Brother  Redman  was  an 
exception,  and  came  out  unscathed. 

The  following  year  he  was  appointed  to  the  Gasconade 
Circuit.  This  was  in  the  bounds  of  the  Missouri  District. 
The  Rev.  Samuel  Thompson  was  his  presiding  elder.  This 
was  also  a  hard  field  of  labor,  lying  in  a  sparsely-settled, 
mountainous  region  of  country,  south  of  the  Missouri  River, 
chiefly  on  the  waters  of  the  Burbes  and  Gasconade  rivers. 


372  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

On  this  Circuit,  as  on  the  first  he  travelled,  he  had  to  hunt 
out  among  the  valleys  and  hilla  of  the  Gasconade  his  preach- 
ing-places, and  form  his  own  Circuit.  As  the  result  of  his 
labors,  he  reported  25  white  and  15  colored  members. 

He  formed  an  attachment  this  year  for  his  presiding  older 
which  continued  through  1  i to — and  no  marvel,  for  who  that 
knew  Samuel  II.  Thompson  did  not  love  him?    To  the 
youi  hers,  and  his  companions  in  labors  and  suffer- 

ings, he  always  endeared  himself.  Full  of  goodness,  and  a 
large  sympathetic  heart,  always  ready  for  the  battle  and  the 
most  difficult  and  dangerous  positions,  h«'  won  the  confidence 
and  affections  of  hie  fellow -laborers  in  the  kingdom  and 
patience  of  Jesus. 

At   the  close  of  his  second  year,   Brother   Redman  was 
■  1  to  D(  aeon's  orders  ly  the  first  Conference  held  in  St. 
Louis,  October,  1822,  and  ordained  by  Bishop  Roberts. 

The  following  year  we  find  him  on  the  Boonslick  Circuit, 
in  the  Bame  district  as  lasi  year,  the  Rev.  David  sharp 
being  presiding  elder.  Sere  he  found  a  membership  of  126 
white  and  -J"  1  members.     This  circuit  embraced  the 

counties  <>f  Howard  and  Chariton  and  a  part  «>f  Randolph 
and   B  This  was  a  large  territory  to  be  explored  in 

four  :  much  of  it  was  frontier  work ;  yet  in  regard  to 

comforts,  helps,  etc.,  this  appointment  was  greatly  in  advance 
of  the  former.  Nothing  of  special  notice  transpired  in  his 
itinerant  rarer:  he  was  diligent,  acceptable,  and,  to  some 
extent,  useful  in  his  field  of  labor.  lie  returned  an  inci 
of  CG  white  and  9  colored  members.  I  have  heard  him  Bpeak 
in  terms  <■:'  respect  and  strong  attachment  for  hi-  presiding 
r  of  that  year,  hut  as  Brother  Sharp  remained  but  one 
year  in  the  far  "West,  their  acquaintance  was  of  short  du- 
ration. 


WILLIAM    W.    REDMAN.  373 

At  the  ensuing  Conference  lie  was  appointed  in  charge  of 
the  Boonslick  and  Cedar  Creek  Circuit,  with  Joseph  Edmon- 
son for  his  colleague.  This  arrangement  greatly  enlarged 
his  territorial  bounds,  and  also  his  lahprs  and  responsibility. 
His  colleague  was  a  most  estimable  young  man,  of  superior 
mind  and  great  promise.  They  were  true-yokefellows,  and 
labored  together  with  great  success.  This  was  young  Ed- 
monson's first  year.  He  lived  to  attain  considerable  emi- 
nence for  talents,  piety,  and  usefulness,  and  died  in  the 
triumphs  of  faith.  I  think  his  death  occurred  about  the  year 
1844.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Conference,  loved 
and  lamented  by  his  brethren. 

At  the  close  of  this  year  Brother  Redman  attended  the 
Conference,  and  was  elected  and  ordained  elder.  The  ordi- 
nation services  were  performed  by  Bishop  Soule,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  Bishops  McKendree  and  Roberts.  The  Conference 
held  its  sessions  at  Padfield's  camp-ground,  St.  Clair  County, 
Illinois;  and  here  the  writer  again  met  with  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  having  been  transferred  from  the  Kentucky  Con- 
ference to  the  Missouri. 

On  many  accounts  this  was  a  memorable  session  of  the 
Conference.  The  presence  and  preaching  of  three  bishops 
gave  interest  and  importance  to  the  occasion.  The  funeral 
sermon  of  the  lamented  Beauchamp,  a  minister  of  uncom- 
mon ability,  piety,  and  usefulness,  and  a  member  of  the 
Conference,  was  delivered  by  Bishop  Soule  at  this  session. 
It  was  one  of  his  happiest  efforts.  But  the  most  remarkable 
and  affecting  incident  of  the  occasion  was  the  division  of  the 
Conference,  under  the  action  of  the  General  Conference  of 
that  year.  The  time  had  now  come  when  this  pioneer  band 
must  be  separated,  to  meet  no  more  on  earth.  That  portion 
of  the   original   Conference   lying  west  of  the   Mississippi 


374  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

River,  retained  the  original  name.  The  Bubject  of  this 
sketch,  as  well  aa  the  writer,  fell  on  the  west  side  of  the 
great  river,  in  the  hounds  of  the  Missouri  Conference. 

Brother  Redman's  next  appointment  was  Cedar  Creek  Cir- 
cuit, where  he  labored  with  acceptability  and  usefulness. 
But  here,  as  well  as  elsewhere  in  Missouri,  Methodism  met 
with  formidable  opposition.  The  Arian  heresy  prevailed  to 
Borne  extent  The  doctrine  of  Barton  Stone  was  embrs 
by  many,  having  been  transplanted  by  a  tide  of  emigration 
from  Kentucky.  The  Baptists  were  numerous,  and  had  pre- 
ipied  the  ground  with  their  doctrine  of  immersion,  and 
the  exclusive  Bpirit  which  characterizes  so  many  of  that 
denomination.  The  opposition  was  manifested  in  various 
way-,  and  the  Bpirit  and  practice  of  proselyting  was  common* 
Bi  ted  partisans  not  (infrequently  availed  themselves  of  our 
labors  to  build  up  their  own  .-ret.  Brother  Redman  hail 
many  hard  trial.-  from  this  source,  both  in  this  and  the 
1'.  mslick  Circuit.  Our  preachers  then  were  few  and  far 
between;  and  this  gave  the  ministers  of  the  denominations 
referred  t>>  a  favorable  opportunity  of  carrying  out  their  pra- 
ting Bchemi  .  ■  Redman,  however,  contended 
manfully  for  the  faith,  and  bouIs  were  won  to  Christ.  The 
minute-,  nevertl  a  small  decrease  in  the  aumbers 
reported  at  the  close  of  * 

This  year  the  Conf  held  at  a  place  called  New 

To,  .  31    Q  County,  Missouri.    Brother  Red- 

man was  one  of  the  little  hand  of  pioneers  at  that  Confer- 
— Lxteen  in  number — with  the  beloved  Bishop  Roberts 
at  our  head.    We  were  entertained  by  some  kind  friends, 
on  the  ground  which  had  been  prepared  for 

'oil. 

room  which  we  used  for  the  sessions  of  our  Confer- 


WILLIAM    W.     REDMAM.  375 

ence  was  a  dilapidated  cabin,  at  some  distance  from  the 
camp-ground.  Brother  Redman's  health  having  in  a  mea- 
sure failed,  he  received  a  supernumerary  relation  at  this  Con- 
ference, and  was  appointed  to  Boonslick  and  Lamoine  Cir- 
cuits, the  one  lying  north  and  the  other  south  of  the  Missouri 
River,  to  labor  as  he  might  be  able.  Uriel  Ilawe  was  his 
colleague.  The  position  of  the  two  Circuits,  separated  as 
they  were  by  the  river,  rendered  it  both  embarrassing  and 
laborious,  especially  for  a  man  in  feeble  health  like  Brother 
Redman.  Some,  perhaps,  at  this  distance  of  time,  may 
think  this  a  very  singular  arrangement  of  the  work,  but  a 
sufficient  explanation  is  found  in  the  fact  that  we  had  only 
some  sixteen  or  twenty  preachers  to  occupy  a  territory  now 
embracing  some  four  Annual  Conferences. 

At  the  Conference  held  for  1826,  he  asked  and  obtained  a 
location.  This  step,  which  he  and  his  brethren  deeply  re- 
gretted, he  felt  impelled  to  take  from  the  force  of  circum- 
stances as  then  presented  to  his  mind.  He  had  married 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Boonslick  Circuit,  some  three  years 
prior  to  this.  He  found  himself  with  a  growing  family,  both 
white  and  black,  too  numerous,  as  he  supposed,  to  remove 
from  place  to  place,  and  yet  too  young  to  leave  alone  for  any 
considerable  time.  Moreover,  it  was  difficult  for  a  man  with 
a  family  to  get  a  support :  the  membership  was  small,  and 
generally  new  settlers,  with  but  little  means,  and,  of  course, 
not  much  to  spare  for  ministerial  support.  Besides  this, 
there  was  some  opposition  to  married  preachers,  and  espe- 
cially to  those  who  had  married  before  they  had  time  and  ex- 
perience to  mature  their  minds  and  attain  to  a  standing  to 
which  every  minister  should  aspire  before  assuming  the  bur- 
dens and  responsibilities  of  the  marriage  relation. 

In  the  local  relation  he  remained  two  years.     At  the  Con- 


37G  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

ference  of  1828  be  was  readmitted  into  the  Missouri  Confer- 
ence, and  was  appointed  to  the  Lamoine  Circuit.  He  was 
bleased  in  Lis  labors,  and  now  felt  that  he  was  in  the  path  of 
duty.  lie  had  tried  a  Local  sphere,  and  found  it  an  unplea- 
sant position  for  him,  while  he  felt  that  his  call  implied  en- 
tire consecration  to  the  great  work  of  saving  souls.  Many 
who  have  made  the  experiment  know  full  well  that  his  was 
no  isolated  i 

From  the  Conference  of  1820,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
I  Lar  Creek  Circuit.  He  had  for  his  colleague  William 
Crane,  with  whom  he  Labored  harmoniously  in  their  Master's 
Cause.  Brother  Redman  was  not  the  man  who  could  not 
work  except  in  the  Lead,  but  wherever  duty  called  he  was 
ready  to  do  his  best,  and  lay  himself  out  for  the  accomplish- 
ment i  in  the  cause  of  humanity  and  religion. 

A:  the  end  of  this  y.-ar,  circumstances  of  a  most  perplexing 
character  again  Beemed  to  hedge  up  his  way,  and  he  was 
once  more  driven  from  the  rank-  of  the  itinerancy.  It  was 
with  no  ordinary  reluctance  that  he  again  asked  for  a  loca- 
tion, which  was  granted  him. 

In  this  relation  he  remained  two  years,  when,  feeling  dis* 
satisfied  in  it,  he  applied  at  the  Conference  held  September, 
1882,  and  was  readily  readmitted  by  his  brethren,  who  loved 
him  and  sympathized  with  him  in  his  trouble  this  Con- 

fereliee  he  WSS  appointed  to  the   Laiiioine  Circuit. 

Ed  the  autumn  of  is:',:)  ),,•  was  again  appointed  to  Cedar 
•  k  Circuit,  where  he  lahored  with  great  aceeptahleness 
and  signal  ancc< 

At  the  ensuing  Conference  of  1834,  he  was  again  appointed 

to  Boonslick  Circuit,  where  he  was  perhaps  more  popular 

than  at  any  previous  appointment.    The  inquiry  will  perhaps 

uule,  Why  keep   a  pivaehei  for  so  many  years  on  sonio 


WILLIAM    W.     REDMAN.  377 

three  circuits  ?  The  answer  is,  first,  he  was  not  prepared  to 
remove  to  distant  parts  of  the  Conference ;  secondly,  the 
circuits  were  not  prepared  to  do  without  his  valuable  ser- 
vices ;  and,  thirdly,  his  services  were  always  acceptable  and 
useful — never  more  so  than  at  the  last  appointments  to  these 
several  circuits. 

In  the  autumn  of  1835,  he  was  appointed  in  charge  of  the 
Boonville  District,  on  which  he  remained  two  years.  In  this 
appointment  nothing  of  special  interest  has  come  to  our 
knowledge.  He  was  called  to  new  duties  and  responsibilities, 
which  he  faithfully  discharged. 

At  the  Conference  of  1837,  held  in  St.  Louis,  he  was 
appointed  agent  for  the  St.  Charles  College.  In  this  work 
he  remained  two  years.  It  was  a  hard  service,  and  an 
appointment  that  no  one  desired. 

His  success  in  behalf  of  the  College  was  limited ;  but  per- 
haps no  one  would  have  done  more  under  the  circumstances 
than  he  did,  although  he  was  far  from  being  satisfied  with 
the  result  of  his  efforts.  He  collected  some  debts  due  the 
College,  and  added  some  sixteen  hundred  dollars  to  the  en- 
dowment fund.  He  thought  that  he  ought  to  have  added 
thousands,  whereas  he  only  added  hundreds.  But  his  failure 
was  not  attributable  to  a  want  of  talents  or  industry  in  his 
agency,  but  to  a  combination  of  circumstances  wholly  be- 
yond his  control.  His  ill-success  in  the  matter  induced  him, 
before  the  close  of  the  second  year,  with  the  advice  and  con- 
sent of  the  Board  of  Curators,  to  give  up  the  duties  of  the 
agency;  and  he  was  employed  until  Conference  on  the 
Boonslick  Circuit,  where  he  was  instrumental  in  carrying 
forward  a  most  gracious  revival  of  religion  at  Watts's  Chapel. 
I  have  heard  him  speak  of  it  as  a  time  of  remarkable  power. 
He  said  that  he  experienced  singular  manifestations  of  God's 


378  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

love  to  him.  An  eye-witness  told  me  that  Brother  Redman 
was  entirely  overpowered,  so  that  he  lay  for  hours  upon  the 
ground  as  helpless  M  BO  infant.  Some  of  the  fruits  of  that 
meeting  remain  until  the  present,  but  others  are  gathered 
with  the  honored  instrument  to  the  garner  of  God. 

At  the  Conference  of  1830,  held  in  Fayette,  Brother  Red- 
man was  appointed  presiding  elder  of  the  Richmond  District. 
This  was  a  Laborious  field,  being  almost  wholly  frontier  work, 
[ring  long  travels,  over  hill  and  vale,  across  vast  prairies, 
without  roads  in  numerous  instances,  save  a  narrow  bridle- 
way, as  the  pioi  U  it.    In  some  places  he  was  com- 
pelled to  hold  his  quarterly  meetings  in  Log-cabins.    On  some 
such  occ            the  chapel  was  kitchen,  dining-room,  parlor, 
and  bed-chamber  for  the  family  and  guests.    But  he  was  not 
tomplain,  although  the  fore  might  be  simple  and 
light  not  always  l»e  invited  to  rest  his  weary 
.    bed  of  down. 

He  continued  in  this  field  four  years,  during  which  time 
he  proved  himself  worthy  of  the  trust  committed  to  his 
hands,  and  did  much  to  build  up  and  establish  Methodism  in 
the  bounds  of  that  large  District,  and  never  was  our  dear 
brother  more  beloved  by  preachers  and  people.  His  popu- 
larity was  greatly  Increased,  and  deservedly  so. 

After  closing  his  labors  in  this  District,  and  bidding  adieu 
to  the  people  of  his  charge — many  of  whom  had  been  con- 
verted through  his  ministry — he  met  his  brethren  again  in 
Conference,  which  was  held  that  year  in  Lexington,  Missouri. 

A-  usual,  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  Conference,  and 

filled  the  office  with  great  acceptableness.     At  this  session  he 

ted  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of  1844. 

This  session  of  the  General  Conference  proved  to  be  the 

most  remarkable  in  our  history,  and  in  his  connection  with 


WILLIAM     W.     REDMAN.  379 

the  struggle  of  that  occasion,  he  proved  himself  worthy  the 
respect  shown  him  by  his  brethren. 

At  the  Conference  at  Lexington  he  was  appointed  to  the 
"Weston  District,  on  which  he  remained  but  one  year.  lie 
was  then  put  on  the  St.  Louis  District,  where  he  labored  with 
some  degree  of  usefulness  for  two  }-ears.  During  this  period 
he  was  bereaved  of  the  wife  of  his  youth.  She  was  a  good 
woman,  and  died  in  peace. 

In  1845  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence, which  met  in  Petersburg,  Virginia,  being  the  first 
General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South.  At  that  Conference  the  Missouri  Conference  was 
divided  by  the  Missouri  River — that  part  south  of  the  river 
was  called  St.  Louis  Conference,  the  other  part  retaining  the 
original  name.  Brother  Redman  preferred  the  Missouri  Con- 
ference, and  was  accordingly  changed,  and  put  in  charge  of 
the  St.  Charles  District,  by  Bishop  Paine,  where  he  labored 
with  his  usual  zeal,  popularity,  and  usefulness  for  three  suc- 
cessive years.  During  this  period  he  reentered  the  state  of 
matrimony.     His  second  wife  was  an  excellent  lady. 

At  the  Conference  held  in  Fulton,  Calloway  County,  in 
1849,  he  was  reappointed  for  the  fourth  year  to  the  same 
district ;  and  elected  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of 
1850 — which  may  be  considered  as  proof  of  his  general  popu- 
larity, the  confidence  of  the  appointing  power,  and  the  strong 
hold  which  he  had  in  the  affections  of  his  brethren,  and  their 
estimate  of  his  ability  to  serve  them  in  the  highest  council 
of  the  Church. 

At  the  close  of  the  Conference  he  proceeded  to  enter  upon 
the  labors  of  another  year  in  good  health  and  spirits.  But 
how  mysterious  and  inscrutable  the  ways  of  God  !  Brother 
Redman  had  arranged  his  first  round  of  appointments,  and 


880  BIOGRAFUICAL    SKETCHES 

was  about  to  commence  (as  lie  supposed)  another  year's  toil 
in  his  Master's  vineyard,  when  the  Lord  said  to  his  servant, 
"It  is  enough!"  How  unexpected  the  call,  hoth  to  himself 
and  others !  "When,  with  that  earnest  grip  and  warm  heart 
so  common  to  Methodist  preachers  at  the  parting  seme  of 
an  Annual  Conference,  he  shook  the  hands  of  his  brethren, 
little  did  he  think  it  would  be  the  last — little  did  we  think 
ihonld  see  his  face  no  more  en  earth!  But  it  was  even  so! 
lie  died  at  home,  in  the  bosom  of  his  family.  His  disease 
was  an  affection  of  the  heart.  He  was  taken  ill  on  Sabbath, 
while  preaching  a  funeral  sermon,  three  miles  from  home, 
October  29th,  1*4(.».  While  preaching  he  fainted  away. 
After  some  time  he  was  resuscitated  and  conveyed  home, 
where  he  had  good  medical  advice,  and  every  attention  from 

his  family  and    friends   that   could    Contribute    to   his   comfort 

and  relief  He  rested  pretty  well  the  firsl  pari  of  the  night: 
got  up  at  three  o'clock;  asked  for  some  tea,  with  which  he 
ome  bread;  said  he  felt  comfortable ;  ami  requested  his 
wife  to  extinguish  the  light  and  retire  to  rest  She  did  so; 
but  very  soon  discovered  his  breathing  to  he  unnatural,  ami 
made  haste  to  light  a  candle,  and  go  to  his  relief.     But  she 

could   m  him.      A  few  more  pulsations,  and   his   heart 

ed  to  beat,  his  spirit  departed,  ami  nothing  was  left  on 
earth  hut  the  caskel  in  which  the  precious  treasure  had  been 
deposited  ! 

Brother  Redman  was  a  good  man.  He  was  a  kind  hus- 
band ami  tender  parent — perhaps  a  little  too  indulgent  for 
th<' good  of  his  children;  but  he  loved  and  cared  for  them, 
and  Btrove  hard  to  educate  and  bring  them  up  in  the  right  way. 
He  was  brought  up  to  habits  of  industry.  II'-  learned  the 
printing  business  when  young,  and  had,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  his  itinerant  career,  a  respectable  English  education, 


WILLIAM     W.     REDMAN.  381 

to  which  ho  added  a  considerable  stock  of  useful  knowledge 
by  reading. 

He  was  an  acceptable  preacher.  He  took  pains  in  prepar- 
ing himself  to  defend  the  peculiar  doctrines  and  polity  of 
the  Church,  which  he  did  with  great  success.  Few  preachers 
of  his  day  were  better  prepared  to  expose  the  prevailing 
errors  of  the  times.  He  wrote  a  series  of  able  articles  on  the 
dogmas  of  the  Rev.  Alexander  Campbell  and  his  followers, 
which  were  published  in  the  Church  papers,  and  were  exten- 
sively read  and  highly  esteemed.  He  sometimes  felt  him- 
self called  to  oppose  the  peculiar  views  of  the  Baptists, 
and  never  failed  to  make  his  mark.  Although  he  managed 
these  controversies  with  great  earnestness,  he  seldom  if  ever 
gave  offence  to  the  opposing  party,  owing  to  the  mildness  of 
temper  and  sweetness  of  spirit  in  which  he  conducted  them. 
He  also  published  a  sermon  on  Ministerial  Support  that 
speaks  well  for  his  ability  as  a  writer.  His  piety  was  deep 
and  fervent.  He  was  a  man  of  much  prayer.  In  the  social 
circle  he  was  cheerful,  but  never  light — sober,  but  not  aus- 
tere— dignified,  but  never  assuming.  He  sought  not  only  to 
render  his  company  agreeable  but  edifying.  He  was  a 
devoted  Christian,  a  faithful  and  useful  minister  for  more 
than  thirty  years.  He  was  continually  humbled  in  view  of 
his  own  frailties  and  imperfections,  and  felt  that  he  needed 
the  all-prevailing  mediation  of  the  Saviour,  as  also  the  sym- 
pathy and  forbearance  of  his  brethren.  But  "  he  rests  from 
his  labors,  and  his  works  do  follow  him." 

I  will  close  this  brief  sketch  with  a  few  extracts  from  a 
letter  just  received  from  an  estimable  minister  of  the  Mis- 
souri Conference,  the  Eev.  William  A.  Mayhew,  dated 
Mexico,  Missouri,  February  25th,  1858.     He  says : 

"My  acquaintance  with  Brother  Redman  commenced  at 


382  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

the  session  of  the  Missouri  Conference  held  at  Glasgow,  in 
the  autumn  of  1847.  llis  kind  manner  toward  me  during 
the  session  of  that  Conference,  the  first  I  ever  attended,  as 
well  as  his  warm-hearted  generosity  at  the  elose  of  the  ses- 
sion, made  a  deep  impression  on  my  mind,  and  will  always, 
I  trust,  be  remembered  with  gratefulness.  From  that  time 
to  the  period  of  Brother  Redman's  death,  a  little  more  than 
rs,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  having  him  as  my  presiding 
elder.  At  the  Conference  of  1V17  I  was  appointed  to  the 
New  London  Mission,  which  then  embraced  a  portion  of  two 
counties,  Ralls  and  Pike,  and  was  one  of  tli*'  charges  com- 
posing tli"  St.  Charles  District,  over  which  our  beloved  Red- 
man then  presided.  After  the  firsl  Bis  months  of  the  year 
1  ad  passed,  it  was  found  accessary  to  conned  the  Mi 
Mi—ion  with  the  New  London,  in  order  to  afford  them 
preaching  and  pastoral  care,  and  Brother  Redman  procured 
the  of   the   Rev.    R.   C.    Eatton   as  the  assistant 

preacher.     In  consequence  of  thai  arrangement,  there  were 
two  sets  of  quarterly  meeting-,  bo  that  we  frequently  enj 

and  ministry  of  Brother  Redman,  and  we  always 
found  him  kind  and  willing  to  give  information  in  regard  to 
our  theological  Btndies,  and  also  interested  in  the  temporal 

fort  of  the  preachers  in  his  District.     Many  acts  of  his 
kindness  in  these  regards,  not  only  to  myself,  bul  also  to 

her  Eatton,  are  .-till  very  clearly,  and,  I  trust,  kindly 
recollect*  d. 

"He  was  punctual  in  attending  his  quarterly  m  and 

his  labors  at   them  all  were  more  or  less  I  irit- 

nal  edification  and  religions  encouragement  of  the  preachers 
and  membership  of  the  Church.    During  this  year  we  had 

camp-meetings — one  on  the  New  Ron. Ion  Mission,  the 
other  on  the  Mexico  —  and  both  were  attended  by  Brother 


WILLIAM    W.    REDMAN.  383 

Redman.  The  New  London  meeting  was  held  at  Grass 
Creek  Camp-ground,  in  Pike  County.  There  were  but  few 
tenters,  though  a  pretty  large  concourse  of  people  was  in 
attendance.  The  Church  in  that  neighborhood,  as  to  num- 
bers, was  then  very  feeble.  At  this  meeting  Brother  Red- 
man preached  with  great  acceptableness,  usefulness,  and 
success.  lie  commenced  his  labors  by  preaching  from  Ilab- 
akkuk  iii.  2.  That  discourse  made  a  very  fine  impression 
on  those  in  attendance.  Many  points  of  his  sermon  on  that 
occasion  are  yet  remembered  by  me,  and  doubtless  by  others. 
This  meeting  resulted  in  the  conversion  and  accession  to  the 
Church  of  some  twenty  persons,  and  I  have  no  doubt  Brother 
Redman's  labors  contributed  very  largely,  under  the  blessing 
of  God,  to  that  success. 

"  The  camp-meeting  on  the  Mexico  Mission  was  held  one 
mile  north-east  of  the  town  of  Mexico,  on  the  land  of  Brother 
J.  J.  "West,  and  was  the  first  held  at  that  place.  The  Meth- 
odists at  Mexico  were  then  but  a  feeble  band,  and  it  was  not 
without  some  difficulty  the  meeting  was  gotten  up.  The 
tenters  were  few.  It  was  attended,  however,  by  quite  a  large 
concourse  of  people,  and  resulted  in  the  conversion  and 
accession  to  the  Church  of  some  twenty-seven  persons,  some 
of  whom  have  since  died,  and  are  now,  no  doubt,  reaping 
their  reward  in  heaven,  with  him  who  was,  in  all  probability, 
the  instrument  in  the  hands  of  God  of  their  conversion.  At 
this  meeting  Brother  Redman  preached  the  funeral  sermon  of 
Sister  Day,  of  precious  memory,  long  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church,  and  who  had  died  a  few  months  previous  in  the 
triumphs  of  faith,  and  in  confident  hope  of  a  blissful  immor- 
tality. Brother  Redman's  sermon  was  attended  with  unction, 
and  made  a  powerful  impression  on  the  congregation,  and 
one  or  two  of  Sister  Day's  sons  were  led  to  seek  religion. 


384  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

About  fifteen  months  from  that  time,  worn  down  with  his 
labors,  he  quietly  and  calmly  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  and  entered 
the  rest  for  which  lie  then  toiled,  and  now  realizes  the  full 
fruition  of  the  joy  which  he,  in  that  hour  of  Christian  rejoic- 
ing, anticipated. 

"I  learn,  through  the  brethren  in  Mexico,  that  at  the  camp- 
meeting  held  on  the  same  ground  in  September,  1849,  Bro- 
ther Redman's  labors  had  more  of  the  miction  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  about  them,  and  Were  more  signally  owned  and  blessed 
of  God  in  the  building  up  of  the  Church  and  the  conversion 
of  sinners,  lie  Labored  hard  and  long,  until  he  was  almost 
entirely  worn  down.  Some  fifty  souls  were  converted.  When 
newness  of  the  count  ry,  sparseness  of  popula- 
tion, ami  prevalence  <»t*  Campbellism,  that  meeting  may  be 
great  triumph,  and  is  very  justly  entitled  the  most 
powerful   m<  vex  held    in    this   part    of  the   country. 

Shortly  after  this,  Brother  Redman  attended  the  Conference 
held  in  Fulton,  the  I      i  i  er  attended,  and  the 

last  time  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him.  I  could  not  but 
notice,  at  that  Conference,  his  worn-down  appearance,  but 

did  not  BUppOSe  that  he  was  BO  near  the  close  of  his  earthly 

pilgrim; 

"  Brother  Redman  was  endeared  to  me  by  many  acts  of 
kindness,  as  doubth  to  many,  very  many  others.    I 

loved  him  as  B  friend,  I  might  say  almost  as  B  father,  asso- 
ciated B8  I  was  with  him  during  the  first  years  of  my  itinerant 
labor,  and  even  now  I  feel  grateful,  and  thank  God  that  I  ever 
with  his  counsels  and  shared  in  his  friendship." 


THE    END. 


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